The treecreeper family Certhidae contains 6 closely related species of bird. They are very similar in appearance and can present serious identification problems where two species occur. They do not migrate other than for local movements.
The treecreepers are small woodland birds, brown above and white below. They have thin pointed down-curved bills, which they use to extricate insects from bark. They have stiff tail feathers, like woodpeckers, which they use to support themselves on vertical trees.
The taxonomy of the Certhiidae is somewhat problematic, and on the basis of DNA-DNA analysis comparisons some workers suggest placing 22 genera and about 100 species in the family.
The Certhiidae use their thin, thorn-like bill to probe beneath bark for food, which primarily consists of small insects, spiders, and other small invertebrates.
Treecreepers also eat seeds and nuts, usually in wintertime when invertebrates are scarce.
Feeds |
Contact