Dipper

Listen to example recordings of the main vocalisations of Dipper, provided by xeno-canto contributors.

This species can be found on the following statutory and conservation listings and schedules.

UK Birds of Conservation Concern	Amber listed
Species of European Conservation Concern	Least Concern
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (global)	Least Concern
Schedule 1 license required (to disturb)	No
Birds Directive Annex 1	No
Listed on the Annexes of	Bern(III)

The WBS/WBBS shows that Dipper populations have fluctuated over the last thirty years, with a general downward trend. Through its strengthening UK breeding decline, the species was moved from green to being amber listed in the latest review (Eaton et al. 2015).

UK breeding population

-50% decrease (1995–2022)

Dippers are exclusively associated with fast-flowing, stony-bottomed watercourses, whether in winter or in the breeding season. They are widespread throughout non-coastal areas in Scotland, Wales, northern and southwestern England, and absent from low-lying areas of central, south and eastern England. Densities tend to be relatively high in Scotland, northern England and the southern half of Wales.

Breeding range changes since the 1968–72 Breeding Atlas in Britain have been slight (-11%). Small losses in northern and western Scotland may be related to acidification problems from conifer plantations. Farther south, it is notable that losses have taken place on the eastern fringe of the range in Wales and southwest England.

In suitable locations Dipper is recorded throughout the year.

View a summary of recoveries in the Online Ringing Report.

Foreign locations of birds ringed or recovered in Britain & Ireland

View number ringed each year in the Online Ringing Report

Maximum Age from Ringing	8 years 9 months 6 days (set in 2017)
Typical Lifespan	3 years with breeding typically at 1 year
Adult Survival	0.54

Wing Length	Adults	92.6±4.8 | Range 86–100mm, N=388
	Juveniles	93.3±4.4 | Range 86-99mm, N=133
	Males	97.3±2.1 | Range 93.5–101mm, N=160
	Females	88.8±2.3 | Range 86–92mm, N=204

Body Weight	Adults	63.7±6.3 | Range 54.0–73.8g, N=340
	Juveniles	62.9±6 | Range 54.0–73.0g, N=127
	Males	68.5±4 | Range 62.0–74.0g, N=139
	Females	59.9±5 | Range 52.5–69.0g, N=180

Feather measurements and photos on featherbase

Ring size	CC
Field Codes	2-letter: DI | 5-letter code: DIPPE | Euring: 10500

For information in another language (where available) click on a linked name

Causes of change

The drivers of change for Dipper are unclear; however breeding productivity has risen so it is unlikely that problems during the nesting stage have contributed to the observed declines.

Further information on causes of change

The species is unusually sensitive to acidity and other water-borne pollution (Ormerod & Tyler 1989, 1990), with lower breeding densities and productivity on acidic than on more neutral streams (Ormerod et al. 1991, Vickery 1991, 1992). Breeding performance has improved strongly over time, and laying dates have shifted earlier, perhaps because of climate change (Crick & Sparks 1999). Broods now average larger than in the late 1960s and 1970s, and there has been substantial reduction in failure rates of nests at the egg stage, leading to sustained increase in the number of fledglings per breeding attempt. In a river system in southern Norway, climate variables including winter temperature explained 84% of the variation in population level during 1978-2008 (Nilsson et al. 2011). Thus, some of the UK fluctuations may relate to winter weather.

Information about conservation actions

The drivers of change are unclear, but are unlikely to be due to problems during the breeding season and fluctuations in abundance could relate mainly to winter weather. However, Dippers are sensitive to acidity (see Causes of Change section, above) and therefore conservation actions which protect rivers from pollution and which ensure they do not become more acidic are likely to help to ensure that conditions remain optimal for Dippers.