Bird profile – The Treecreeper (Certhia familiaris)
Treecreepers are active little birds that can be found in woodlands and forests across Europe and Asia. They are known to forage on the trunks of large trees, climbing up and down in search of insects - hence the name!
What Do Treecreepers Look Like?
Treecreepers are small birds, measuring from 12 to 18 centimetres in length. They have a slender body and are mostly brown in colour which makes them excellent at camouflaging against the bark of a tree. Their tail feathers are stiffened which they use as a prop to brace against the tree trunks while climbing.
What Do Treecreepers Eat?
Treecreeper's diets are mostly made up of insects, insect larvae and spiders, however, they are also happy to eat small seeds, particularly pine and spruce seeds in the winter months. Treecreepers will rarely eat food put out for them, however, there have recently been an increasing amount of reports of them eating peanuts from mesh feeders.
So, if you want to know how to attract treecreepers to your garden, try getting a mesh feeder and some peanut treats and you might get lucky!
Fun facts about Treecreepers
- Treecreepers have a high-pitched song which is very soft and can go unnoticed unless you are close to their habitat
- Treecreepers typically nest in tree cavities.
- Normally, Treecreepers lay 4-7 white or lightly speckled eggs.
- Treecreepers always go up trees, never down. When they get to the top they fly to the bottom of the next tree.
- The beak is ideally adapted for finding insects in the crevices of tree bark: it is very slender, slightly decurved and sharply pointed.
You can do your bit for British wildlife - including the lovable Treecreeper- by putting out bird seeds and planting wildflowers in your garden!
Buy Bird Food Buy Wildflower Seeds
