Brown Creeper

Brown Creeper

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1. Description
2. Sound
3. Conservation Status
4. Other Names
5. Cool Facts
6. Full detailed species account

Distinctive in habits and morphology, the Brown Creeper is a small, well-camouflaged bird of woodlands. It creeps along tree trunks, spiraling upward, picking invertebrates from the bark with its curved and pointed bill.

Description

• Small songbird.
• Upperparts streaked brown and white.
• Underparts whitish.
• Long thin bill.
• Long tail.
• Creeps up tree trunks.

• Size: 12-14 cm (5-6 in)
• Wingspan: 17-20 cm (7-8 in)
• Weight: 5-10 g (0.18-0.35 ounces)

Sex Differences

Sexes look alike, but male slightly larger and with slightly longer bill.

Sound

Song is a musical phrase of four to nine high clear notes, varying by region and from individual to individual. Call a very high-pitched "seee."

Conservation Status

Widespread and generally abundant, but habitat loss and degradation is considered a threat to the species in some states, including Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, New Jersey, New York, Idaho, and Montana.

Other Names

Grimpereau americain, Grimpereau brun (French)
Trepadorcito norteamericano, Trepador americano (Spanish)

Cool Facts

• The Brown Creeper bears an extremely close physical resemblance to the Eurasian Treecreeper and Short-toed Treecreeper, and was at one time considered the same species as the Eurasian Treecreeper. But studies of vocalizations, including experiments in which they do not respond to each other's songs, support recognition of three separate species.

• In Arizona, Brown Creeper nests often have two openings, one which serves as an entrance and the other as an exit. Entrances face downward and exits upward.

Sources used to construct this page:

Hejl, S. J., K. R. Newlon, M. E. McFadzen, J. S. Young, and C. K. Ghalambor. 2002. Brown Creeper (Certhia americana). In The Birds of North America, No. 669 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.