What is that piece of tree bark doing? Look closely if you hear a thin, high-pitched whistle among stands of coniferous trees in the western mountains. It’s hard to hear, and no wonder this wren-sized songbird is tough to spot as well–brown streaked with white on the back, white underneath, a down-curved bill and longish tail feathers. Blending superbly with the background, the Brown Creeper (Certhia americana) mines for insects tucked behind layers of loose bark on fir, pine or spruce trees, using its stiff tail to hold it firmly in place. You are more likely to see it hitch-hopping up a tree trunk than flying.
I caught up to this little creeper in a BC provincial park during the annual Christmas Bird Count. They’re largely non-migratory, except for changing locations by elevation in winter. Not timid, it kept on busily checking out the menu while it dodged around the trunk. I was ready with my camera when it reached my side. How lucky to be able to add one more species to our count total!
Eleven members of the treecreeper family (certhiidae) can be found worldwide in wooded regions of the northern hemisphere and sub-Saharan Africa. Brown creepers are the only ones living in North America. Keep your eyes and ears open!
Gillian Richardson...naturally 