(Certhia americana)
Conservation • Description • Habitat • Ecology • Distribution • Taxonomy
Conservation Status |
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IUCN Red List | LC - Least Concern |
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NatureServe | N5 - Secure SNRB, SNRN - Unranked Breeding and Nonbreeding |
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Minnesota | not listed |
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Description |
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Brown Creeper is very well camouflaged. The head, upperside, and wings are a dark dull brown heavily mottled with brownish-white. When still on a tree trunk, it is difficult to distinguish from the bark. The rump is rich rusty brown. The tail is relatively long. The underparts are dull white. There is a white “eyebrow” streak above the eye. The bill is curved downward. |
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Size |
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5″ to 5½″ in length 7½″ wingspan |
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Voice |
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A series of 5 or 6 high-pitched notes, 1 long followed by 4 or 5 shorter, lasting about 1½ seconds. Described as trees, beautiful trees, or trees-trees-trees see the trees. |
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Similar Species |
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No similar species in North America | ||
Habitat |
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Mature, deciduous, coniferous and mixed forest, especially wet areas with large dead trees |
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Ecology |
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Behavior |
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When foraging, the brown creeper begins near the bottom of a tree and moves upward with quick jerky movements, sometimes in a spiral around the tree trunk, leaning on its relatively long tail for support. White-breasted Nuthatch often moves downward, starting near the top of a tree trunk, though it can also move upward or sideways. The different direction of movement exposes different bark crevices to each species. |
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Migration |
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Mid-March to late May and September through November. |
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Nesting |
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Food |
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In the warm season, insects, insect larvae, spiders, spider eggs, and pseudoscorpions. In the winter, seeds and other vegetable matter. |
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Distribution |
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Occurrence |
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Very widespread in North America. In Minnesota, uncommon to local breeder, uncommon to occasionally common migrant, uncommon winter resident. |
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Maps |
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The Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union All Seasons Species Occurrence Map |
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Taxonomy |
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Class | Aves (birds) | ||
Order |
Passeriformes (perching birds) | ||
Family |
Certhiidae (treecreepers) | ||
Genus |
Certhia (typical treecreepers) | ||
Subordinate Taxa |
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Northern Group Brown Creeper (Certhia americana alascensis) Northeastern Brown Creeper (Certhia americana americana) Brown Creeper (Certhia americana leucosticta) Brown Creeper (Certhia americana montana) Brown Creeper (Certhia americana nigrescens) Brown Creeper (Certhia americana occidentalis) Brown Creeper (Certhia americana phillipsi) Haida Creeper (Certhia americana stewarti) Brown Creeper (Certhia americana zelotes)
Southern Group Brown Creeper (Certhia americana alticola) Brown Creeper (Certhia americana guerrerensis) Brown Creeper (Certhia americana jaliscensis) Guatemalan Brown Creeper (Certhia americana pernigra) Honduran Brown Creeper (Certhia americana extima) Mexican Brown Creeper (Certhia americana albescens) |
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Synonyms |
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Visitor Photos |
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Share your photo of this bird. |
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Greg Watson |
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Dan W. Andree |
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"Brown Creeper"... In the woods along the Wild Rice River in Norman Co. Mn. Jan. 2021. They can blend in well with the tree trunks and branches. |
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Ramona Abrego |
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Laurie Wachholz |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos |
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Visitor Videos |
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Share your video of this bird. |
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This button not working for you? Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com. Attach a video, a YouTube link, or a cloud storage link. |
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Other Videos |
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Brown Creeper (Certhia americana) Foraging Behavior Carl Barrentine |
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About
Published on May 9, 2013 Normal and slow-motion views of a Brown Creeper (Certhiidae: Certhia americana) foraging for arthropods on the trunk and branches of a green ash. Photographed at Grand Forks, North Dakota (09 May 2013) |
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Brown Creeper (Certhia americana) Mark George |
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About
Published on Apr 1, 2013 Filmed in Western Canada |
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Brown Creeper (Certhiidae: Certhia americana) Foraging Carl Barrentine |
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About
Uploaded on Oct 23, 2009 Photographed at Grand Forks, North Dakota (22 October 2009). |
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Brown Creeper Bringing Food to the Nest Larry Jordan |
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About
Published on Jul 24, 2012 Brown Creepers (Certhia americana) at Lassen Volcanic National Park were found bringing food to their nest. I didn't see the nest at first and the birds were flying around me and vocalizing, flying from tree to tree and climbing, then flying near me and chirping at me. I finally figured out that I was near the nest opening and backed off to where they could get in to feed their young. You can see the adults going into the top of the nest opening and a few seconds later, coming out another adjacent opening lower between the bark. At the end of the video, I show you the actual entrance from the side where the adults are accessing the nest. |
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Brown Creeper Eco Nut |
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About
Uploaded on Oct 3, 2010 http://gregjoder.wordpress.com/ ~ I found this Brown creeper upside-down on my deck -- I suspect it hit my living room window. It was really cool outside so I held the bird in my hand to keep it warm and until I felt it was getting better. I then let it latch on to the Aspen where it sat for a few more minutes before flying off. I hope there was no lasting damage... |
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