The American Dipper, or Water Ouzel, might not look particularly impressive with its small size and grey plumage, but it’s actually a fascinating and unique bird with an array of traits that make it a delight to sight in the Yellowstone National Park.
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From underwater hunting, to its clear and bright song, this bird has been a favorite of many visitors to the park, and it’s definitely one for any nature lovers to keep an eye and ear out for.
Despite it’s plumage lacking any color, or bright and interesting visual features, it’s instrumental in helping the bird survive its waterside lifestyle and underwater feeding habits.
Underwater Peekaboo
As seen in this footage, the American Dipper doesn’t intercept its prey in midair like many other birds of a similar size, but instead it hunts for food in the crisp mountain streams near where they make their nests.
These little birds position themselves in the shallows, where they repeatedly poke their head under the water looking for the insects they like to eat. This gives them the appearance of playing games of peekaboo with their prey.
Seeing the dipper’s little head break the surface of the water must ruin the day of the little critters they eat, but it’s only possible because of the dipper’s special feathers.
Like many other birds that spend their time near bodies of water, such as ducks, geese and loons, the dipper has developed a preen gland that secretes a special kind of oil that helps their feathers resist water. A vital adaptation for a bird that lives near running rivers.
Waterfront Property
American Dippers prefer to build their nests on cliff faces or rocky outcroppings nearby to the cold and clean mountain streams they use as their hunting grounds. Sometimes they’ve even been known to nest on the cliffs behind waterfalls.
When dippers pair up with their mates, they use teamwork to construct their nests which can take them over a week to complete. Once the nest is complete, dippers dedicate their time to raising their young.
Dedicated Parents
Just as building the nest is a mutual activity, so is raising dipper chicks. The mother and father will work together to keep their children fed, and the nest clean of their waste, a full time job.
The little chicks can be seen in the footage poking their heads through the nest opening when their parent returns with their meal, desperate to be fed.
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A Bobbing Bird
These dipper parents are unique from other birds in some key ways, despite being overlooked in favor of flashier birds due to their uninspiring appearance.
Their unique hunting pattern sees American Dippers walking along the riverbeds in search of their food, which alone is a unique trait, but they’re also the only songbird in North American to exhibit this hunting behavior.
While they might not jump out with brightly colored feathers, they’re still a bird to keep an eye out for while visiting the Yellowstone National Park, as their sweet song and unique habits are as amazing as any other bird.