dipper

Dipper is a term with multiple meanings, most prominently referring to a group of small aquatic birds and to a well-known sky feature. It also denotes a simple handheld scoop or ladle used to transfer liquids.

Dipper birds, or dippers, are medium-sized, stout passerines adapted to cold, fast-flowing streams. They typically perch on rocks along stream margins, walk along submerged stones, and dive briefly underwater to feed on aquatic insects, insect larvae, and crustaceans. They bob or dip as they move and feed, a behavior from which the name derives. The genus Cinclus includes several species, such as the American dipper (Cinclus mexicanus) found in western North America and the white-throated dipper (Cinclus cinclus) in Europe; other species occur in Asia and Africa. Dippers often nest in crevices along streams or under overhangs, laying small clutches of eggs. They are generally found in mountainous or temperate regions, where clear, well-oxygenated streams provide feeding opportunities.

In astronomy, the Big Dipper is an asterism formed by seven bright stars in the Great Bear (Ursa Major). It is widely used for orientation in the northern hemisphere, with the two stars at the bowl—known as the pointer stars—aiming toward Polaris, the North Star. The Big Dipper is distinct from the Little Dipper, a separate seven-star asterism in Ursa Minor that includes Polaris at its end.

Other uses of the word include a dipper as a ladle or scoop used for transferring liquids in kitchens, laboratories, and industrial settings.