This remarkable diving bird lives along the banks of mountain, fast-flowing rivers and streams. The dipper somewhat resembles thrushes, but it has a very short tail. These small songbirds are capable of diving into icy holes even in winter. It is the size of a small thrush, but more robust. It has a short tail, playfully raised upwards. The top of its head, wings, and tail are dark brown, while its back is aspid gray. Against the overall very dark coloration (almost black on the back, chocolate on the head), the bright white chest and belly stand out sharply.
A relative of the common dipper is the brown dipper, which differs from the common one by its uniform dark brown coloration and slightly larger size.
Its entire life is closely connected with rocky shores. Here it finds its food, nests, and raises its brood. It skillfully jumps from stone to stone under the clear streams of the mountain river and suddenly dives into the water. Continuing to run along the bottom, it submerges deeper and completely disappears underwater. Gripping the pebbles tightly and slightly moving its wings, it quickly scuttles underwater for 2–3 meters and swiftly flies out to the shore with prey in its beak. And in a moment, its characteristic call, like "zhik-zhik...", can be heard somewhere far away.
Dippers begin nesting quite early. In clear weather, their beautiful loud song can be heard even in winter. In March, the birds form pairs in places where they will later build nests. A pair of dippers occupies a stretch of river or stream about 2–3 km long. Beyond these boundaries, if the area is suitable, the territory of another pair of birds begins. Dippers always nest near water. They build a large round nest with thick walls about 40 cm in diameter from green moss, dry leaves, and grass. The diameter of the nesting chamber is about 20 cm. The entrance hole is located on the side and is about 9 cm in diameter. For comparison, the width of the entrance hole for no less large starlings and colorful woodpeckers is about 5 cm.
Dipper nests are placed in crevices of rocks overhanging the water or in the roots of undermined trees. It is not easy to see them – often the nest is hidden from prying eyes by a stream of water cascading from the overhanging ledge above the nest. Incubation in dippers lasts 17–20 days. Only the female incubates the clutch, but both parents feed the chicks for 20–25 days. In a year, a dipper manages to raise two broods. Young dippers that leave the nest differ from adults by their paler coloration and well-visible spots. But by autumn, the chicks molt, acquiring the adult plumage.
They feed on small crustaceans, larvae of aquatic insects, snails, and sometimes even fish fry.
