At a river in Idaho, a small bird dives into the rapids for a quick snack. Two minutes later, the same bird pops out of the water, not even wet! What is this bird?
The American Dipper! The American Dipper (Cinclus mexicanus), is a fat little dark gray bird with an ok lifestyle.With long legs. This weird bird bobs its whole body up and down, hence the name, 'Dipper'.
This species, like other dippers, is equipped with a built-in pair of swimming goggles called a "nictitating membrane" that allows it to see underwater, and nose plugs (scales) that close its nostrils when submerged. Dippers also produce more oil than most birds, which may help keep them warmer when looking for food underwater.
And now the nest: The American dipper's nest is a dome-shaped structure with a side entrance, close to water, on a rock ledge. Which is a little weird, because that means the chick's first steps have the danger of death in them to. After all, the parents DO build the nest on a overly slippery rock next to two feet of water. Kind of poor planing, isn't it? Not for the Dipper! You see, the bird will only eat bugs. Not just any bugs, but aquatic bugs. So, it makes sense to leave your chicks hungry for a for a day or two. Eventually, they will come outside looking for food. The chicks will (hopefully) see the other dippers looking for what they want. They will either start chirping
If you don't feel like doing that and just are to lazy too look for food, well, you could starve. Or if you mess up badly enough, be lunch. Dippers are eaten by alot of fish that are in the water they live next to/in, including the Dolly Varden trout (Salvelinus malma).
Personally, I think that the chicks should NOT fail. It might be a bad idea.
So now you know about a ridiculously fat and crazy bird.
Sources: Wikipedia, http://www.
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