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White-throated TreecreeperSize: 13-15 cm |
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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.
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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.
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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
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Breeding information |
| Breeding season: Aug - Dec | Eggs: 2 - 4 | Incubation period: 21 - 22 days | Fledging age: 25 days |
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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!
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Eggs |
| Size: 23 x 17 mm | Colour: White with sparse brown specks | Shape: Tapered oval |
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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.
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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
