Key data

• Size: 16 - 18 cm

• Weight: 50 - 90 g

• Diet: Insect larvae, small fish, crustaceans, worms, and mollusks

• Season: All year round

• Observation tip:  Eurasia, North America, and South America

Photography tips:

• Lens: 600 mm or greater

• Difficulty level: moderate

The Dipper (Cinclus cinclus) is unlike most other songbirds as it lives near water and is an excellent swimmer and diver. This large bird has a stocky appearance, with a length of about 16-18 centimeters and a weight of 50 to 90 grams. Its feathers are dark brown on the upper side and white on the underside, which helps it blend in perfectly when swimming in the water. Its legs, feet, and toes are strong. The Dipper also has a distinctive white eyebrow line.

It uses its wings to brace against the current while hunting for insects, worms, and crustaceans underwater with its strong legs. The Dipper builds its nest near flowing water, usually in half-caves or niches along the riverbank.

The Dipper is found in Eurasia, North America, and South America and inhabits plains near rapidly flowing rivers, streams, and currents in mountainous regions.