Wintering Behavior, Physiology and Site Fidelity in a Partial Migrant, the American Dipper (Cinclus mexicanus)

Waterbirds ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 461-470 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ivy Whitehorne
Keyword(s):  
Site Fidelity ◽  
Cinclus Mexicanus ◽  
Partial Migrant ◽  
American Dipper

scholarly journals Seasonal Trends in Population Density, Distribution, and Movement of American Dippers Within a Watershed of Southwestern British Columbia, Canada

The Condor ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 106 (4) ◽  
pp. 815-825
Author(s):  
Christy A. Morrissey ◽  
Leah I. Bendell-Young ◽  
John E. Elliott
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Site Fidelity ◽  
Total Population ◽  
Local Population ◽  
Coastal Watershed ◽  
Cinclus Mexicanus ◽  
Main River ◽  
American Dipper ◽  
Del Rio ◽  
High Degree

Abstract American Dippers concentrate on low-elevation streams during fall and winter in many parts of their range; however the breeding origin relative to the wintering location is poorly understood. Our objectives were to identify seasonal changes in the density and distribution of American Dippers, to classify the migratory behavior of the local population, and to determine the origin of winter migrants within a coastal watershed of British Columbia, Canada. During 1999–2002, we color banded 522 dippers and radio-tagged 14 in the Chilliwack River watershed. Using mark-resighting techniques, we identified peak densities on the main river during early November (9.8 ± 1.4 [SE] birds per stream km), which was nearly 5 times higher than in early July (2.1 ± 0.3 birds per stream km). The watershed's total population size, estimated from November surveys, was 429 ± 64 [SE] dippers in 1999, 682 ± 79 in 2000, 697 ± 123 in 2001, and 550 ± 72 in 2002. The majority (79– 90%) of the dipper population seasonally migrated, primarily moving from the main river in fall and winter to the higher-elevation tributaries in spring. The remaining dippers (10– 16%) remained resident on the main river year-round. Migrants showed a high degree of winter site fidelity with 67% returning to the same site on the Chilliwack River for 2 or more years. Given the population's defined structure and predictable seasonal movements, this study has implications for applying American Dipper populations as indicators of water and habitat quality in North American watersheds. Tendencias Estacionales en Densidad Poblacional, Distribución y Movimiento de Cinclus mexicanus en una Cuenca del Sudoeste de la Columbia Británica, Canadá Resumen. Cinclus mexicanus se concentra en ríos ubicados a baja elevación en muchas partes de su rango durante el otoño y el invierno; sin embargo, se conoce poco sobre la relación entre el sitio originario de reproducción y la localización durante el invierno. Nuestros objetivos fueron identificar los cambios estacionales en la densidad y la distribución de C. mexicanus, clasificar el comportamiento migratorio de la población local y determinar el origen de los migrantes invernales en una cuenca costera de la Columbia Británica, Canadá. Entre 1999 y 2002 anillamos con bandas de color 522 individuos de C. mexicanus y seguimos con radio-telemetría 14 individuos en la cuenca del Río Chilliwack. Usando técnicas de marcado y re-avistamiento, identificamos densidades pico en el río principal durante principios de noviembre (9.8 ± 1.4 [EE] aves por km de río), lo que fue casi 5 veces más alto que a principios de julio (2.1 ± 0.3 aves por km de río). El tamaño total de la población de la cuenca, estimado a partir de los censos de noviembre, fue 429 ± 64 [EE] aves en 1999, 682 ± 79 en 2000, 697 ± 123 en 2001 y 550 ± 72 en 2002. La mayoría (79–90%) de la población de C. mexicanus migró estacionalmente, moviéndose principalmente desde el río principal en el otoño y el invierno a los tributarios de mayor elevación en la primavera. Los individuos restantes (10–16%) permanecieron como residentes en el río principal durante todo el año. Los migrantes mostraron un alto grado de fidelidad a los sitios de invierno, con un 67% de los individuos retornando al mismo sitio en el Río Chilliwack por 2 años o más. Dada la estructura definida de la población y los movimientos estacionales predecibles, este estudio señala que las poblaciones de C. mexicanus pueden ser usadas como indicadores de la calidad del agua y del hábitat en las cuencas de América del Norte.

scholarly journals Breeding territory fidelity in a partial migrant, the American dipper Cinclus mexicanus

2006 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 169-178 ◽  
Author(s):  
Holly A. Middleton ◽  
Christy A. Morrissey ◽  
David J. Green
Keyword(s):  
Cinclus Mexicanus ◽  
Territory Fidelity ◽  
Breeding Territory ◽  
Partial Migrant ◽  
American Dipper

scholarly journals American Dipper, Cinclus mexicanus, Preys Upon Larval Tailed Frogs, Ascaphus truei

2004 ◽  
Vol 118 (3) ◽  
pp. 446 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christy A. Morrissey ◽  
Roberta J. Olenick
Keyword(s):  
North America ◽  
Aquatic Invertebrates ◽  
Juvenile Fish ◽  
Mountain Streams ◽  
Western North America ◽  
Ascaphus Truei ◽  
Cinclus Mexicanus ◽  
Salmon Eggs ◽  
American Dipper

The American Dipper (Cinclus mexicanus) is an aquatic songbird that inhabits fast-flowing mountain streams in western North America. Although dippers are known to feed primarily on aquatic invertebrates, they will also eat juvenile fish and salmon eggs when available. In 2002, while monitoring and photographing nesting activities of the American dipper, we observed and photographed adult dippers capturing Tailed Frog (Ascaphus truei) tadpoles and feeding them to their young. This note is intended to document a rarely observed occurrence and identify interactions between two relatively uncommon species.

American Dipper (Cinclus mexicanus)

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary F. Willson ◽  
Hugh E. Kingery
Keyword(s):  
Cinclus Mexicanus ◽  
American Dipper

Effect of altitudinal migration within a watershed on the reproductive success of American dippers

2004 ◽  
Vol 82 (5) ◽  
pp. 800-807 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christy A Morrissey
Keyword(s):  
Timing Of Breeding ◽  
Breeding Performance ◽  
Elevation Gradients ◽  
Cinclus Mexicanus ◽  
Altitudinal Migration ◽  
Main River ◽  
Lower Elevation ◽  
American Dipper ◽  
Migratory Status ◽  
Second Clutch

Distinct changes occur in the distribution of American dipper (Cinclus mexicanus Swainson, 1827) populations during the breeding season. Small numbers of American dippers remain resident on the wintering site, while the majority of birds make short altitudinal movements upstream. Therefore, American dippers breed over large elevation gradients within a watershed, using both the main river and its associated tributaries. I hypothesized that altitudinal migration of American dippers would affect their timing of breeding and ultimately their productivity. Additionally, since the main river and its tributaries differ in habitat, elevation, and nesting substrates, I hypothesized that these variables would also influence American dipper breeding performance. In the Chilliwack watershed of British Columbia, Canada, I followed 99 pairs of American dippers: 23 in 1999, 40 in 2000, and 36 in 2001, of which approximately 65% were residents and 35% were migrants. Resident pairs on the lower elevation river initiated nests earlier and a greater proportion had second broods, contributing to slightly higher nest success and annual productivity compared with migrants on tributaries. Reduced productivity was primarily associated with later onset of breeding, which increased the likelihood that nests were lost to predation or flooding and reduced the probability of initiating a second clutch. Timing of breeding was affected by migratory status and year, but elevation and habitat did not directly influence breeding performance.

Conservation genetics of American Dipper (Cinclus mexicanus): the genetic status of a population in severe decline

2007 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 939-944 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cynthia M. Anderson ◽  
Garth M. Spellman ◽  
Carolyn S. Ferrell ◽  
Katherine Strickler ◽  
Shane K. Sarver
Keyword(s):  
Conservation Genetics ◽  
Cinclus Mexicanus ◽  
Genetic Status ◽  
American Dipper

American Dipper (Cinclus mexicanus)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hugh E. Kingery ◽  
Mary F. Willson
Keyword(s):  
Cinclus Mexicanus ◽  
American Dipper
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