Dippers generally lay their eggs during the period from April through June, but later dates are no doubt the rule further north or at higher elevations. On the average, dippers lay four eggs which are incubated 16 to 18 days. After hatching, the young birds spend about 24 days in the nest. This amount of time is about twice as long as that of birds using open nests. Dippers probably need more time to develop behaviorally and physically to meet the demands of their aquatic environment.
Many American dippers spend their lives in one watershed.
In winter, the birds may also forage for food in the intertidal portions of streams of along saltwater beaches. On Alaska's North Slope, dippers inhabit the ice-free spring areas in winter. The American dipper is highly territorial and may defend more than a half mile of stream in summer and as much as 1,000 feet of stream in winter. Territorial singing during winter, however, is quite unusual for any songbird. The dipper's song is very melodious and sounds like a long rendition of some of the best notes of thrushes and wrens.