White-throated Treecreeper
Cormobates leucophaea· 短嘴旋木雀科(2 photos)
White-throated Treecreeper
16-17.5 cm. Dark treecreeper with white throat; no eyebrow. Breast olive-cream, heavily streaked black and white; undertail-coverts barred. Female: ochre spot on neck. Immature: pale freckles on forehead; female: rump bright chestnut. Birds in ne. Q smaller, darker. Singles, pairs, family parties: climbs trees briskly, often spiralling; flight between trees fast, swooping, showing pale fawn wing band.
- Other name
- Little Treecreeper; 'Woodpecker'.
- Similar Species
- Red-browed Treecreeper: throat white, eyebrow/eye-ring rich chestnut; parties forage higher.
- Voice
- rapid, high-pitched, penetrating piping, beginning with several clear single notes or in a burst; slowing, falling slightly, pausing, continuing interminably; rippling mellow trill; musical phrases, sub-songs.
- Habitat
- rainforests, wetter eucalypt forests, woodlands; coast tea-tree/banksia-scrubs; riverine forests, drier woodlands, sub-inland scrubs - mallee, belar, brigalow.
- Breeding
- Aug.-Jan.
- Nest
- of bark shreds; lined with fur, feathers, charcoal; in hollow branch, trunk, 5-15 m high; cavity in building, mineshaft.
- Eggs
- 2-3; white, spotted dark red, purple-brown.
- Range & Status
- se. and e. Aust. and islands (except Bass Strait, Tas.). Race griscescens: Mt Lofty Ras./Fleurieu Pen. (SA) (where isolated); Race leucophaea lower se. SA, Vic., except drier nw.; e. NSW, to w. slopes of Gt Divide, river red gum forests on Murray R. system; Race metastatise: ne/ NSW, n. to c. Rockhampton, inland to Carnarvon Ras. Race intermedia: lower ne. Q, incl. Eungella Ra. near Mackay. Race minor, 'Little Treecreeper': highlands (300-1200 m) from Mt Spec-Atherton Tableland n. to Mt Amos, near Cooktown (Q). Common. Sedentary.
- Distribution key to races
- 1. Cormobates leucophaea minor 2. Cormobates leucophaea intermedia 3. Cormobates leucophaea metastasis 4. Cormobates leucophaea leucophaea 5. Cormobates leucophaea grisescens
