dipper

Any of various birds of the genus Cinclus, family Cinclidae, order Passeriformes, found in hilly and mountainous regions across Eurasia and North America, where there are clear, fast-flowing streams. It can swim, dive, or walk along the bottom, using the pressure of water on its wings and tail to keep it down, while it searches for insect larvae and other small animals. Both wings and tail are short, the beak is fairly short and straight, and the general colour of the bird is brown, the throat and part of the breast being white.

The American dipper Cinclus mexicanus of western North America, is about 20 cm/8 in long, sooty-grey overall, and resembles a wren.