Short-toed Treecreeper
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| Short-toed Treecreeper | ||||||||||||||
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| Certhia brachydactyla Brehm, 1820 |
The Short-toed Treecreeper, Certhia brachydactyla, is a small passerine bird found through much of warmer temperate Europe and into north Africa. It is a member of the treecreeper family. It is closely related to the very similar Common Treecreeper. It has a generally more southerly distribution than that species, although there is extensive range overlap in western Europe. Where both occur, Short-toed Treecreeper tends to prefer deciduous trees.
The Short-toed Treecreeper is the only treecreeper which breeds in southern Spain or eastern Turkey. It is a major rarity in Great Britain.
It is a resident in woodlands throughout its range, and nests in tree crevices or behind bark flakes. About six eggs are laid.
This is a small bird12-13.5 cm in length, fairly drab in appearance, streaked brownish above and white below. It has long stiff tail feathers which help it creep up tree trunks like a mouse looking for insects. It has a long curved bill.