Brown Tree Creeper - Certhia Americana
Average size 12 - 14cm length - Relative to body size, these small birds have long down curved bills. Moulted colouration resembles tree bark and nicely camouflages in the woodland habitats where they live. The Brown Tree Creeper's life span is possibly up to 5 years. These birds have been found living at 11,000 feet altitude.
They are seen spiralling up from the bottom of trees to upper trunks, then flying to another tree, repeating the same maneuvers probing and pecking for insects, spiders and larvae. Ground foraging is rare. They like trunks that have deeper insect rich furrows. In summer, preferences are given to conifer woodlands where they can build cupped nests for their young. Winter finds these birds with more varied habitats such as deciduous trees such as fruit and oak sometimes in backyards and parks. Seed and suet feeders are often visited at this time of year.
Nesting season begins in April. Insect cocoons, spider webs and cases are used to cement any mosses, feathers, leaves, wood fibres, lichens and grasses to form a half cup inserted behind protruding tree barks or hollows. Both parents feed the young. During the breeding months, it is thought that males and females are mostly monogamous. Males will sing to attract a mate.
Brown Tree Creepers on cooler days, often form flocks and communally roost together. They have been known to even join in with other species' mobbing activities to help keep predator birds away.
