Responses to diving in the dipper, Cinclus mexicanus

Microdistributional Variability of Larval Caddisflies in Mediterranean-Climate Streams in Northern California

“…Teague et al (1985) suggested that sizeselective predation by American dippers (Cinclus mexicanus) restricted larger species of caddisflies like Dicosmoecus to deep habitats. Dippers ordinarily dive to depths of ~15 to 50 cm (Murrish 1970) and apparently selectively feed on relatively large, case-bearing caddisflies (Thut 1970). In contrast, predaceous fish, like steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), that reside in deeper, slower waters in SFE have difficulty eating large, armored 5th-instar Dicosmoecus (Power et al 2008), like those encountered in our study.…”

Feeding ecology of a vertebrate assemblage inhabiting a stream of NW Spain (Riobo; Ulla basin)

“…These adaptations may make it an efficient predator of prey residing in the stream bed. Dippers have less adaptations to aquatic environment (Goodge, 1960;Murrish, 1970), reaching the bottom with less energetic cost in riffles or shallow water. As other birds do, dippers locate prey by vision (Goodge, 1960).…”

Diet of DippersCinclus cinclusduring an early winter spate and the possible implications for Dipper populations subjected to climate change

“…They are adapted to feed in fast-flowing rivers (Goodge 1959, 1960, Murrish 1970a, 1970b, eating mainly benthic macroinvertebrates and fish (review in Tyler & Ormerod 1994). The Dipper Cinclus cinclus forages by wading and diving in shallow riffles and river margins, and by diving and swimming in deeper riffles and pools (review in Tyler & Ormerod 1994).…”