The Cinclidae family includes five species of birds called dippers. They are found in North and South America, Europe, and Asia, where they live along fast-flowing rivers, streams, and mountain lakes.

Dippers have plump bodies and are 5.5–8.0 inches (14.0–20.3 cm) long. They have straight, pointed bills, short, rounded wings, and short, square or rounded tails. Their feathers are usually brown, gray, or black, and some species have white patches on the throat, chest, or head. Males and females look alike.

Dippers have dense, waterproof feathers that help keep them warm in cold water. They can dive and swim underwater for up to 10–15 seconds, using their wings to “fly” through the water. They often walk along the stream bottom while searching for food. Their diet includes aquatic insects and their larvae, crustaceans, small fish, fish eggs, and other small aquatic animals.

The American Dipper (Cinclus mexicanus) is the only dipper found in North America. It lives along fast-moving streams from Alaska south through the Rocky Mountains and other western mountain ranges to Panama. It is about 8.0 inches (20.3 cm) long and has slate-gray feathers, a short, stubby tail, and a distinctive habit of bobbing up and down on rocks beside streams.