The dipper lives on the banks of streams rapidly. The many rivers in the Jura mountains provide habitat him perfectly suited. It occurs both near the sources, as in the gorges, in small streams or along major river like the Loue or Ain. The condition of his presence is a riffle and a rocky bottom, where he found much of its food.
With his stocky, brown plumage, the throat and chest white, dippers can not be confused. His wings look chipped and tail are short but powerful, it measures 18-20 cm long and weighs approximately 60-70 g. Her double eyelids are colored white, they protect their eyes when the dipper dips. You can see when blink as the picture below:
Dipper feed mainly on aquatic larvae they find in searching the river bottom. Seen so often the head immersed in water to return the rocks.
When he can, dippers built its nest behind a waterfall, offering good protection against predators. It's so impressive to observe through the waterfall to feed the young or the female remained in the nest. Thus, children will learn to swim first before learning to fly.
Young dippers leave the nest at the age of 20 days. Parents continue to feed until their independence. Each time the adults, young people frantically waving their wings to claim a meal.
The young dippers features different from adults, chest and belly are cream colored while the rest of the body is covered with gray feathers. In most cases, you can observe the dipper standing on a rock in the river or along the shore. It then monitors its territory that it defends against intrusions by other dippers.
Finally, a few other photographs of the beautiful dipper of Jura's mountains:

© Fabien Greban - wildlife photography
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