[Tweeters] Dipper Behavior Surprise

[Preston Mui via Tweeters]

According to the Birds of the World entry, they copulate while floating:

Copulation

>

> Occurs 2–4 wk after pair formation, usually on rocks in stream but

> sometimes as birds float downstream (S. Bouricius and G. Evans, personal

> communication). Continues for about 15 s; repeated 3–4 times within 2 min (

> 3 <https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/amedip/cur/references#REF2403>).

> Copulation accompanied by singing and loud *jik* Call Series (10

> <https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/amedip/cur/references#REF2410>;

> see Sounds and Vocal Behavior

> <https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/amedip/sounds#vocal>:

> Vocalizations

> <https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/amedip/sounds#vocal>). Two

> reports of midair copulation: following neck-stretching ritual, female took

> off in slow flight; aerial copulation ensued 5 m over water, then birds

> fell together in free drop to water, continued copulation for 6–7 s while

> floating downstream through riffles, then separated and preened (3

> <https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/amedip/cur/references#REF2403>;

> S. Bouricius, personal communication).

>


The "3" reference in the text is "Bakus, G. J. (1959a). Observations of the
life history of the dipper in Montana. Auk 76:190-207."

HTH!

Preston Mui
prestonmui at gmail.com
http://prestonmui.github.io/
(425) 223-8450


On Sat, Jun 15, 2024 at 12:10 PM Trileigh Tucker via Tweeters <
tweeters at u.washington.edu> wrote:


> Hi Norm,

>

>

>

> This is a fascinating observation! If folks reply to you directly (without

> copy to Tweeters), I’d love to hear any insights you gain.

>

>

>

> Thanks much,

>

> Trileigh

>

>

>

>

>

> *Trileigh Tucker, PhD*

>

> *Professor Emerita, Environmental Studies, Seattle University*

>

> *Pelly Valley, West Seattle *

>

> *Writer, Photographer, Fine Artist*

>

> *NaturalPresenceArts.com <http://naturalpresencearts.com/>*

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> *From: *normandlaura donelson via Tweeters <tweeters at u.washington.edu>

> *Date: *Friday, June 14, 2024 at 5:48 PM

> *To: *tweeters at u.washington.edu <tweeters at u.washington.edu>

> *Subject: *[Tweeters] Dipper Behavior Surprise

>

> Yesterday I birded the Oxbow Loop Trail, off Middle Fork Snoqualmie River

> Road east of North Bend.  New trail for me, and I highly recommend it!

>

> I took the spur trail down to the riverside, and soon spotted a pair of

> Dippers.  They landed on a large rock at midstream, then on a smaller

> nearby rock.  There was some fluttering, then I saw the pair of them

> floating downstream, one atop the other!  There was still much fluttering

> from the upper bird, as it tried to hold its position.  This only lasted

> for a few seconds.

>

>

>

> I can only think they were copulating.  Have any of you seen this

> behavior, or heard of it before?  The closest I got in a quick online

> search of the literature was a mention of an observation in which

> copulation occurred while the female was standing submerged in the water.

> If this floating copulation behavior has been seen before (and

> realistically, I have to suppose it has), I couldn't find evidence of it.

>

>

> I should also note the alternative possibility that it could have been two

> males in Dipper combat, though nothing about the incident struck me that

> way.

>

>

> Interested in any observations you may have,

>

> Norm Donelson

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