The outer breast plumage temperature of Dippers Cinclus cinclus roosting beneath river bridges was measured using an infra red thermometer over the environmental temperature range –0.8 to +10.9°C. Plumage temperature was close to, and directly related to, the temperature of the birds’ surroundings, but significantly higher (?T = 2.87°C), suggesting slight heat loss across the plumage to the environment. Plumage temperatures were also measured in Dippers held in the hand; they were much elevated over environmental temperatures (?T = 17–18°C at 0°C), indicating substantial heat loss during handling. © 2004 Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.