Short-toed Treecreeper Bird Facts (Certhia brachydactyla)

Visual Identification

Appearance

The Short-toed Treecreeper is a small, brown bird with a slender, curved bill and stiff tail feathers. Its upperparts are mottled brown, providing excellent camouflage against tree bark, while the underparts are predominantly white with a buff tinge.

Both sexes look alike, with no significant seasonal plumage changes. Juveniles closely resemble adults but may have slightly more diffuse markings and a shorter bill.

Size

Length

12cm to 13.5cm

Wingspan

17cm to 20cm

Weight

7.5g to 11g

Colours

Males and females have similar plumage

Primary Colour

Brown White

Secondary Colour

Buff Grey

Beak Colour

Black

Leg Colour

Brown

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Short-toed Treecreeper can be found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Short-toed Treecreeper can be found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Short-toed Treecreeper is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Short-toed Treecreeper is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Short-toed Treecreeper can be found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Short-toed Treecreeper is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Short-toed Treecreeper is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Short-toed Treecreeper is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Short-toed Treecreeper is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Short-toed Treecreeper is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Short-toed Treecreeper is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Short-toed Treecreeper is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Short-toed Treecreepers are found throughout much of western and southern Europe, including parts of North Africa and the Middle East. They inhabit deciduous and mixed woodlands, parks, and mature gardens with large trees.

In the UK, they are primarily found in southern and eastern England, with some populations in Wales. Their range has been expanding northward in recent decades, possibly due to climate change.

Elevation Range

Up to 2,000 meters

Climate zones

Temperate, Mediterranean

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Short-toed Treecreeper. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons

Resident

Breeding

Vagrant

Distribution by Region

Species that can be found in the area throughout the year

Algeria Andorra Austria Azerbaijan Belgium Bulgaria Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark France Germany Gibraltar Greece Hungary Italy Liechtenstein Luxembourg Macedonia Morocco Netherlands Portugal Romania Slovakia Slovenia Spain Switzerland The United Kingdom Tunisia Turkey Ukraine

Species that are present in the area during their breeding season

Albania Belarus Bosnia and Herzegovina Georgia Montenegro Poland Russia Serbia

Species that appear infrequently (rare) and unpredictably outside their normal range

Sweden Syria

Behaviour and Ecology

Bird Attributes

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Bird Attributes Explained

Our bird attributes system rates various aspects of a bird's capabilities on a scale of 0-100, based on data from field observations, scientific studies, and expert knowledge.

Attribute Categories:

Agility: Manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.
Strength: Physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.
Adaptability: Ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.
Aggressiveness: Territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.
Endurance: Stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

Understanding the Ratings:

0-20: Very Low
21-40: Low
41-60: Average
61-80: High
81-100: Very High

Remember, these attributes are relative to other bird species and don't necessarily indicate superiority.

Hover over the icon next to each attribute for more information.

Tap the icon next to each attribute for more information.

Agility 85

Agility

Reflects the bird's manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.

The Short-toed Treecreeper displays remarkable agility, expertly spiralling up tree trunks and navigating vertical surfaces with ease. Their specialised feet and stiff tail feathers enable precise movements when foraging and climbing.

Strength 30

Strength

Indicates the bird's physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.

As a small bird weighing between 7.5-11g, the Short-toed Treecreeper has limited strength. However, it possesses enough power to cling to bark and extract insects from crevices using its curved bill.

Adaptability 75

Adaptability

Represents the bird's ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.

These birds show good adaptability, inhabiting various woodland types, parks, and even urban gardens with mature trees. Their expanding range northward suggests an ability to adjust to changing environmental conditions.

Aggressiveness 40

Aggressiveness

Measures the bird's territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.

Short-toed Treecreepers are generally non-aggressive, often solitary or found in pairs. They may engage in territorial disputes during breeding season, but overall exhibit low aggression levels compared to many bird species.

Endurance 65

Endurance

Reflects the bird's stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

While not long-distance migrants, these birds demonstrate good endurance in their continuous foraging activities, climbing trees throughout the day. Their ability to raise two broods per season also indicates decent stamina.

Diet

The Short-toed Treecreeper's diet consists primarily of small invertebrates found on tree bark. They feed on insects, spiders, and their eggs and larvae, which they extract from crevices using their specialised curved bill.

In winter, they may occasionally supplement their diet with small seeds.

Behaviour

Short-toed Treecreepers exhibit a distinctive spiralling movement as they climb up tree trunks, using their stiff tail feathers for support. They forage by probing into bark crevices with their specialised curved bills.

These birds are generally solitary or found in pairs, occasionally joining mixed-species flocks outside the breeding season.

Vocalisation

The Short-toed Treecreeper's call is a high-pitched, thin 'tsee-tsee-tsee'. Their song is a series of high, tinkling notes, often described as 'tit-tit-tit-e-tit'.

During territorial disputes, they may produce a rapid, trilling 'srrri-srrri-srrri' sound.

Nesting & Breeding

Breeding season for Short-toed Treecreepers typically begins in April. Males establish territories and attract females with their songs and display flights.

Nests are built behind loose bark or in tree crevices, constructed from twigs, bark strips, and moss, lined with feathers and hair. Females lay 5-6 white eggs with reddish-brown spots.

Incubation lasts about 14-15 days, primarily by the female. Both parents feed the nestlings, which fledge after 15-17 days. Pairs often raise two broods per season.

Conservation and Status

Global Conservation Status

Least Concern ^[1]

While the Short-toed Treecreeper is currently listed as Least Concern, it faces localised threats from habitat loss and fragmentation.

Conservation efforts focus on preserving mature woodlands and maintaining a diverse age structure in managed forests to ensure suitable foraging and nesting sites.

Population Data

Global Population Estimate

11,000,000 - 19,000,000 mature individuals ^[2]

Global Population Trend

^[3]

Trend data may be uncertain or fluctuating

Additional Information

Quick Facts

Other names:

Short-toed Creeper

Family:

Certhiidae

Average Lifespan

2 to 3 years

Max Lifespan

5.9 years ^[4]

Predators

Main predators include sparrowhawks, domestic cats, and small mammals such as pine martens and squirrels. Nest predators may include woodpeckers and some corvids.

Did You Know?

Short-toed Treecreepers can climb up vertical surfaces using their specialised feet and stiff tail feathers.
They are one of the few bird species that almost never climb down trees, instead flying to the base to start over.
Their thin, curved bill is perfectly adapted for probing bark crevices for insects.