Short-toed Treecreeper

Certhia brachydactyla

Genus ยท Typical Treecreepers Family ยท Treecreepers
Observation tips Difficulty: MODERATE
Best time
๐Ÿ•’ Any
Activity
โ˜€๏ธ Diurnal
Best months
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Observation habitat
Forest deciduousOrchardUrban

Look for a tiny, mouse-like bird spiralling up tree trunks. If you hear a clear series of high, repeated whistles, you've likely found a Short-toed Treecreeper

Short-toed Treecreeper
Stats
Wingspan17โ€“21 cm
Weight7โ€“11 g
Length12โ€“13 cm
Lifespan wild2โ€“7 yrs
Size
XS
S
M
L
XL
Nesting
Nest typeCavity
Clutch size5โ€“7 eggs
Incubation13โ€“15 days
Breeding months
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Regional Status (Europe)
LC
Least Concern (Europe)
IUCN Red List
MigrationResident
Social BehaviourSolitary

Diet: Insectivore

๐Ÿฆ—Insects
๐Ÿ•ท๏ธSpiders
๐Ÿ›Larvae
๐ŸฅšEggs

Habitat

๐ŸŒณ Forest deciduous๐ŸŒฒ๐ŸŒณ Forest mixed๐Ÿก Garden๐ŸŽ Orchard๐Ÿ™๏ธ Urban
โœฆ Fun Fact

On cold winter nights, Short-toed Treecreepers sometimes roost communally, pressing together in tight groups in tree crevices to conserve body heat.

About

A tiny, inconspicuous bird and a master of camouflage. It has a streaked brown back that mimics tree bark and a silvery-white belly. It has a long, thin, curved bill. This species is common in deciduous forests and parks in Southern and Central Europe. It spends its life clinging to the trunks of large trees.

Behaviour

Treecreepers forage in a specific way. They start at the base of a tree and spiral upward, probing the bark for insects. When they reach the top, they fly down to the base of the next tree. They use their stiff tail feathers as a prop. Its song is a short, high-pitched whistling sequence.
See Short-toed Treecreeper in the app.
Full encyclopedia, offline diary, AI identification - always with you.
Download on Google Play