Here is an American Dipper or ouzel
@JamesHxstatic (29237)
Eugene, Oregon
July 27, 2016 4:32pm CST
When we were at a lovely place called Belknap Hot Springs up the McKenzie River, I was able to get a photo of this little stocky bird. It is the only really aquatic bird in North America, according to the Cornell University Lab of Ornithology website. It catches all its food under water in fast moving streams by jumping in and walking or swimming under water.
They eat all sorts of aquatic insects, fish eggs and small fish. If you get a chance to stand near a stream with moving water and one of these busy little birds, they are great fun to watch.
22 people like this
19 responses
@JohnRoberts (109857)
• Los Angeles, California
28 Jul 16
Looks like a nice spot. In a way, don't you envy the bird's life? Simple and without worry. No shortage of bugs to chow down on.
3 people like this
@JamesHxstatic (29237)
• Eugene, Oregon
28 Jul 16
No kidding and few predators to worry about the way he hides.
1 person likes this
@chrisandmark (606)
• United Kingdom
27 Jul 16
Gorgeous photo and nice when you can identify the wildlife you've seen
3 people like this
@JamesHxstatic (29237)
• Eugene, Oregon
28 Jul 16
I am a curious sort of guy I guess.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29237)
• Eugene, Oregon
28 Jul 16
I have been interested for many years now and have been feeding them for ten or so. My bit of knowledge helped get me hired.
2 people like this
@jaboUK (64362)
• United Kingdom
28 Jul 16
@JamesHxstatic That's good that you were able to get the job through your hobby.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29237)
• Eugene, Oregon
28 Jul 16
Good question, @JudyEv! I have not researched that.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29237)
• Eugene, Oregon
28 Jul 16
@JudyEv Thanks for looking that up and coming back by. That is interesting info.
1 person likes this
@hereandthere (45651)
• Philippines
28 Jul 16
a bird that not dives, but swims? have you seen how they do that?
1 person likes this
@hereandthere (45651)
• Philippines
28 Jul 16
@JamesHxstatic i found and watched a video of it swimming on the wikipedia page (scroll down to the bottom right corner).
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search American dipper Conservation status Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[1] Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Cinclidae Genus: Cinclus
@JamesHxstatic (29237)
• Eugene, Oregon
28 Jul 16
I have seen them dive into shallow water and hunt a bit then jump out.
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (79592)
• United States
27 Jul 16
Very interesting little bird and I imagine they would be fun to watch
2 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21854)
• Canada
28 Jul 16
What a sweet bird, I would love to see one...
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21854)
• Canada
28 Jul 16
@JamesHxstatic I was curious...I wondered if I ever saw one so looked at this video. What a fun bird! I don't think I have met one but will keep my eyes wide open. He lives in the west so I will probably never see one myself.
The only aquatic North American songbird shows off the dipping movements it was named for, as well as its talents for diving and feeding under water.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29237)
• Eugene, Oregon
28 Jul 16
@PainsOnSlate Thanks for that link. I wish I had used it!
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29237)
• Eugene, Oregon
28 Jul 16
They could be in waterways in your area, not sure.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29237)
• Eugene, Oregon
28 Jul 16
He dives off rocks close to the edge of shallow moving water, checks things out, then jumps back out, so not a deep diver. We have kingfishers here too.
2 people like this
@shshiju (10342)
• Cochin, India
29 Jul 16
@JamesHxstatic Diving birds are really nice to watch.
1 person likes this
@RichardMeister (5328)
• Otis Orchards, Washington
28 Jul 16
I don't think I have ever seen one of these birds. That's interesting.
2 people like this
@JamesHxstatic (29237)
• Eugene, Oregon
28 Jul 16
Well, thanks for coming by to read!
1 person likes this
@miniam (9154)
• Bern, Switzerland
28 Jul 16
@JamesHxstatic
You are welcome and stop thanking me(wink) we are here to read.
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
28 Jul 16
great shot, mr. james! oh, how i'd love to sit'n watch such. most fascinatin' that'd be our only 'true' aquatic bird.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40044)
• Laguna Woods, California
28 Jul 16
I love to watch birds ... and you got a fabulous photo of this one!
1 person likes this
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
28 Jul 16
Isn't an osprey aquatic too? They dive underwater and eat fish they catch. What makes this bird fully aquatic?
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43421)
• Denver, Colorado
28 Jul 16
Never heard of it. I learn something interesting every day here on the site.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29237)
• Eugene, Oregon
28 Jul 16
@teamfreak16, I am sure that you can see them in the cold streams in your state.
1 person likes this
