This species’ often confiding nature, distinctive plumage, pleasing song, and acceptance of human-dominated habitats make it one of the most beloved of North American birds. Polytypic.

The American dipper, a drab-looking bird no larger than a robin, is a splashy rarity ... extra layers of feathers covered with a thick coating of oil wax for waterproofing; a low metabolism ...

Adult: about the size of an American robin, but thinner and longer tailed. Upperparts gray, unstreaked; underparts grayish white, unstreaked; long black tail has white outer tail feathers ...

"Now, an exciting prospect from our research is the possibility of using a common species like the American robin as a bioindicator for pollution exposure." To learn more about Zahor and Glynn's ...