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15

White-throated Treecreeper

(Cormobates leucophaeus)
Size: 13-15 cm

Habitat

(for details refer to a field guide)

There are in total five races of White-throated Treecreepers in Australia (for details see a field guide). Their range extends along the east coast and associated ranges from QLD through NSW and VIC, to about the VIC/SA border. Races "striata" and "intermedius" are found just off the east coast of northern and central QLD, respectively. Race "metastasis" ranges from just north of the tropic of Capricorn to NSW, just to the north of the Hunter River, in a region encompassing also the Great Dividing Range behind the coastline. Further south, throughout eastern NSW and VIC towards the border with SA, race "leucophaeus" is found.

White-throated Treecreepers can be found in various types of forest, from rainforest to more open eucalypt forest and open woodland.

Sightings

White-throated Treecreepers came to the place where we lived from 2003 to 2006, 20 km south of Narrabri, NSW, and into the adjacent bush area, Jack's Creek State Forest, infrequently. In late 2005, we also encountered a pair in Mount Kaputar National Park, some 50 km east of Narrabri.

Spotted again in October of 2006 and on many other occasions in the hills of the Great Dividing Range near Mt. Kaputar, Barraba, and Manilla, NSW. Also seen at Dripping Rock, near Maules Creek, NSW, in October 2011.

Also found by us at Wingham Brush Nature Reserve in September 2011.

Once their loud call is known to the observer, White-throated Treecreepers are easy to locate in the bush. The males' calls are piercingly sharp, with the highest volume of any bird in the neighbourhood.

Photos

Frontal view of a male White-throated Treecreeper

View of the back of a male White-throated Treecreeper

View of the back of a male White-throated Treecreeper in rain forest

Male White-throated Treecreeper seen from underneath

Lateral view of a female White-throated Treecreeper; photo courtesy of C. Kellenberg

Lateral view of a female White-throated Treecreeper

Here a different viewing angle

This female bird is clearly studying the photographer

The same bird as shown above, now seen climbing a tree trunk

In different light they can appear much darker than shown above

Breeding information

Breeding season: Aug - Dec Eggs: 2 - 4 Incubation period: 21 - 22 days Fledging age: 25 days

 

Nest

Type: Tree hollow Material: Bark, fur, grass Height above ground: 1.5 - 20 m

 

Two chicks waiting in their nest; this hollow was only about 1.5 m above ground, which enabled us to take photos from this perspective

The chicks' calls for food is what alerted us to the nest's location

Food has arrived - dinnertime!

Eggs

Size: 23 x 17 mm Colour: White with sparse brown specks Shape: Tapered oval

 

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Territorial Mobility: Sedentary Elementary unit: Pair

 

White-throated Treecreepers can often be seen in pairs or family units, hunting for insects starting from the bottom of a tree going upwards.

Food

Like all treecreepers, White-throated Treecreepers forage for insects in the bark of trees and fallen timber.

As the photo below shows, they forage not only on trees, but along rock faces as well.

Male White-throated Treecreeper foraging on a rockface

These pages are largely based on our own observations. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.