Brown Treecreeper
Climacteris picumnus· 短嘴旋木雀科(1 photos)
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Brown Treecreeper
16-18 cm. Head/neck grey, rest of upperparts soft brown; markings subtle - note short buff eyebrow, slight dark mark through eye; upperbreast plain mouse-grey, cut off by black-edged, pale buff streaks on underparts; undertail-coverts chequered black and white. Male: cluster of fine black streaks in centre of upperbreast. Female: cluster of rufous streaks. Immature: greyer, bill paler; breast nearly unstreaked. Singles, pairs, family parties or resident groups. Active: feeds much on ground, at times well out from cover; flight undulating, with fast sailing glides, showing prominent pale buff wing band, dark tail band. Race melanotus, 'Black Treecreeper', of ne. Q: uniform blackish brown above, with long cream-white eyebrow.
- Other name
- 'Woodpecker'; Black Treecreeper.
- Similar Species
- White-browed Treecreeper: stronger whitish eyebrow; black/white streaked ear coverts; note range. Black-tailed Treecreeper: note range.
- Voice
- strident 'spink!' singly or explosively rapidly repeated, slowing and descending; harsh sparrow-like rattle; softer contact-calls.
- Habitat
- drier forests/woodlands/scrubs, with fallen branches: river red gums on watercourses and around lake-shores (especially inland); paddocks with standing dead timber, stumps; margins of denser wooded areas.
- Breeding
- May-Dec.
- Nest
- of grass; lined with fur; usually in tree hollow 3-10 m or higher, or in stump or fence post near ground, base built up with grass or horse, cow, kangaroo dung.
- Eggs
- 2-3; pink, thickly freckled, streaked red, purple, mostly at large end.
- Range & Status
- suitable habitat in e. Aust.: from Spencer Gulf-L. Frome (SA); most of Vic. except wetter forests/woodlands and s. coastal districts; all NSW except wetter forests/woodlands in e.; in Q, widespread in drier forests/woodlands w. to Channel Country, n. on e. coast to c. Townsville. Race melanotus: drier parts of ne. Q n. of Blackwood NP, w. to s. of Normanton, n. to c. Weipa on w. coast C. York Pen.; seldom to e. coastal areas. Common in suitable habitat. Sedentary.
- Distribution key to races
- 1. Climacteris picumnus melanotus 2. Climacteris picumnus picumnus 3. Climacteris picumnus victoriae
