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Brown Treecreeper

(Climacteris picumnus)
Misnomer: "Woodpecker"
Aboriginal name: "bibi" [yuwaalaraay]
Size: 16-18 cm

Habitat
(for details refer to a field guide)

The three races of Brown Treecreeper populate large parts of QLD, NSW, VIC and the south-eastern tip of SA. Race "melanotus" is found in northern QLD, in a region to the south of the base of Cape York peninsula. Further south, beyond a line connecting Charters Towers and Townsville, QLD, throughout the rest of the total range race "picumnus" is found, except: In the NSW and VIC hills of the Great Dividing Range there is race "victoriae".

Brown Treecreepers can be found in open forests and open woodland. They tend to stick to the edges of open areas, such as e.g. along creeks, clearings or forest edges.

Sightings

Brown Treecreepers came to the place where we lived until 2006, 20 km south of Narrabri, NSW, quite regularly. We also saw them in the adjacent bush area, Jack's Creek State Forest.

Seen and heard by us regularly in the area of Deriah Forest, 30 km east of Narrabri, in the years 2007 to date. They are the most common species of treecreeper in the area.

Seen also in October of 2005 near Bingara, NSW, then north of Coonabarabran in April of 2006 and 50 km north-east of Narrabri in September 2008.

Photos

Brown Treecreeper foraging in a yard

The same bird as above, now in a more upright position

Brown Treecreeper hanging on to the bark of a cypress pine

The same Brown Treecreeper preening itself; the bird was resting in this position as well, without the need for a horizontal branch to sit on

Here a close-up look at the back fo a Brown Treecreeper

Brown Treecreeper climbing up a tree trunk

Adult Brown Treecreeper on a dead branch; this bird was watching over its recently fledged chicks, one of which is shown in the photo below

Fledgling Brown Treecreeper seen from below

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Territorial Mobility: Sedentary Elementary unit: Pair

Of the treecreepers known to us, the Brown Treecreeper is the only one that spends a significant amount of time on the ground.

Food

Like all treecreepers, Brown Treecreepers forage for insects in the bark of trees and fallen timber. Brown Treecreepers also forage on the ground.