Treecreeper

Eurasian Treecreeper	Both Sexes Streaked brown and buff upperparts, white below.
Certhia familiaris
Length: 12.5 cm  (5")
Wing Span: 17-21 cm  (7-8")
Weight: 8-12 g  (¼-½ oz)
Breeding Pairs: 200 000
Present: All Year
Status: Green

Description

The Treecreeper has a streaked brown back and white underparts. The upperparts are excellent camouflage against bark and it will be most likely the brilliant white underparts that will catch your eye.

It climbs up trees mouse-like and usually starts at the bottom and works upwards in a spiral around the trunk. The brown downward-curved beak is used to probe crevices in the bark for insects and its stiff tail is used as a prop (like woodpeckers). The legs are pale brown.

A juvenile's plumage is like that of the adult.

Treecreeper

Treecreeper (Close)

Voice

	Song	Call
	Quicktime mp3	Quicktime mp3

The song of the Treecreeper is often rendered as "tee-tee-tee-titidooee" and is quite similar to the Goldcrest's song.

As they fly from tree to tree you may hear its high pitched "tsee, tsee" call.

Both call and song are high-pitched and not audible to everyone.

Feeding

Treecreepers search the bark of tree trunks and branches for insects and spiders. In the winter, they also feed on some seeds, such as pine and spruce.

Nesting

Both the male and the female build the nest behind loose bark, cladding on a building, or ivy. The nest is made from twigs, grass, and moss, and lined with feathers.

The eggs are about 16 mm by 12 mm. They are smooth and non-glossy, and white and fine reddish-brown speckling. The female incubates the eggs by herself, but both parents feed the altricial young after they have hatched.

Movements

The Treecreeper is sedentary though juveniles disperse up to a few kilometres (miles).

Conservation

The Treecreeper population is quite stable apart from the normal fluctuations caused by harsh winters.

My Garden

We have not seen a Treecreeper in the neighbourhood though there are a few in the local woods.