Editing Treecreeper

{{Short description|Family of birds}}
{{Automatic taxobox
| name = Treecreepers
| image = Cyprus treecreeper (Certhia brachydactyla dorotheae).jpg
| image_caption = Cyprus subspecies of short-toed treecreeper<br>''Certhia brachydactyla dorotheae''
| image_upright = 0.7
| taxon = Certhiidae
| authority = [[William Elford Leach|Leach]], 1820
| subdivision_ranks = Genera
| subdivision = ''[[Certhia]]''<br/>
}}

The '''treecreepers''' are a [[family (biology)|family]], '''Certhiidae''', of small [[passerine]] [[Aves|bird]]s, widespread in wooded regions of the [[Northern Hemisphere]]. The family contains nine species in one [[genus]], ''[[Certhia]]''. Their plumage is dull-coloured. As their name implies, they climb over the vertical surfaces of trees in search of food.

==Taxonomy and systematics==
Some taxonomists place the nuthatches and treecreepers in a larger grouping with the [[wren]]s and [[gnatcatcher]]s. This [[taxonomic rank|superfamily]], the Certhioidea, was  based on [[phylogenetics|phylogenetic]] studies using [[mitochondria]]l and [[cell nucleus|nuclear]] DNA, and was created to cover a clade of four families removed from a larger grouping of passerine birds, the [[Old World warbler|Sylvioidea]].<ref name="Cracraft">Cracraft, J.; Barker, F. Keith; Braun, M. J.; Harshman, J.; Dyke, G.; Feinstein, J.; Stanley, S.; Cibois, A.; Schikler, P.; Beresford, P.; García-Moreno, J.; Sorenson, M. D.; Yuri, T.; Mindell. D. P. (2004) "Phylogenetic relationships among modern birds (Neornithes): Toward an avian tree of life."  p468&ndash;489 in ''Assembling the tree of life'' (J. Cracraft and M. J. Donoghue, eds.). Oxford University Press, New York. {{ISBN|0-19-517234-5}}</ref>  The fossil record for this group appears to be restricted to a foot bone of an early [[Miocene]] bird from [[Bavaria]] which has been identified as an extinct representative of the climbing Certhioidea, a [[clade]] comprising the treecreepers, wallcreeper and nuthatches. It has been described as ''Certhiops rummeli''.<ref name="Manegold">{{cite journal| last= Manegold | first= Albrecht  |date=April 2008| title= Earliest fossil record of the Certhioidea (treecreepers and allies) from the early Miocene of Germany | journal= Journal of Ornithology | volume=149 | issue= 2 | pages= 223–228  | doi = 10.1007/s10336-007-0263-9| s2cid= 11900733 }}</ref>
{{Phylogeny/Certhioidea}}
The genus name is derived from [[Ancient Greek]] ''kerthios'', a small tree-dwelling bird described by [[Aristotle]] and others.<ref name = BTO>{{cite web|title= Treecreeper ''Certhia familiaris'' [Linnaeus, 1758] |work=BirdFacts  |url= http://blx1.bto.org/birdfacts/results/bob14860.htm  |publisher= [[British Trust for Ornithology]] (BTO) |access-date=2008-05-20}}</ref>

There are two other small bird families with ''treecreeper'' or ''creeper'' in their name, which are not closely related:
* the [[Australian treecreeper]]s (Climacteridae)
* the [[Philippine creeper]]s (Rhabdornithidae)

The [[wallcreeper]] was originally described in the family Certhiidae but is now considered as more closely related to the [[nuthatches]]. The [[woodcreeper]]s (subfamily Dendrocolaptinae) also have a similar name.

===Species in taxonomic order===
* '''Genus ''[[Certhia]]'''''
**[[Eurasian treecreeper]] or '''common treecreeper''', ''Certhia familiaris''
**[[Hodgson's treecreeper]], ''Certhia hodgsoni''
**[[Brown creeper]], ''Certhia americana''
**[[Short-toed treecreeper]], ''Certhia brachydactyla''
**[[Bar-tailed treecreeper]] or '''Himalayan treecreeper''', ''Certhia himalayana''
**[[Sichuan treecreeper]], ''Certhia tianquanensis''
**[[Rusty-flanked treecreeper]] or '''Nepal treecreeper''', ''Certhia nipalensis''
**[[Sikkim treecreeper]] or '''brown-throated treecreeper''', ''Certhia discolor''
**[[Hume's treecreeper]], ''Certhia manipurensis''
An extinct treecreeper, ''[[Certhia rummeli]]'', was described from a fossilized right [[tarsometatarsus]] found in karstic fissure fillings in Petersbuch, [[Bavaria]] by German paleornithologist [[Albrecht Manegold]]. This specimen implies the branching of Certhioidea occurred 20 MYA, and represents the oldest fossil passerine assignable to an extant [[Clade|subordinated clade]] of [[Songbird|oscines]] in the Northern Hemisphere.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Manegold|first=Albrecht|date=2008|title=Earliest fossil record of the Certhioidea (treecreepers and allies) from the early Miocene of Germany|url=http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10336-007-0263-9|journal=Journal of Ornithology|language=en|volume=149|issue=2|pages=223–228|doi=10.1007/s10336-007-0263-9|s2cid=11900733 |issn=2193-7192|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

==Description==
Treecreepers measure from 12 to 18 centimetres in length.  Their bills are gently down-curved and rather long, used for probing bark for insects and spiders.  They often climb up tree trunks in a [[helix|helical]] path, hopping with their feet together; their toes are long and tipped with strongly curved claws for gripping. The longer tails of the ''Certhia'' treecreepers are stiffened to use as a prop while climbing, but those of the spotted creeper are shorter and not stiffened. Their songs and calls are thin and high-pitched.<ref name=CJM>{{cite book | last = Mead | first = Christopher J. | year = 2003 | chapter = Holarctic Treecreepers | editor = Perrins, Christopher | editor-link = Chris Perrins | title = The Firefly Encyclopedia of Birds | publisher = Firefly Books | pages = [https://archive.org/details/fireflyencyclope0000unse/page/538 538–540] | isbn = 1-55297-777-3 | chapter-url-access = registration | chapter-url = https://archive.org/details/fireflyencyclope0000unse/page/538 }}</ref>

==Distribution and habitat==
Most species of treecreeper occur in the [[Palearctic]] and [[Indomalayan realm]]s, from Western Europe to [[Japan]] and [[India]]. One species occurs in [[North America]] from [[Alaska]] to [[Nicaragua]].  All species of treecreeper are found in forest and woodland habitats. The more northerly species are partly migratory, and those found in warmer climates are thought to be resident, although information is lacking for many species.<ref name = "HBW">{{Cite book | first = Simon | last = Harrap | editor-last = Josep | editor-first = del Hoyo | editor2-last = Andrew | editor2-first = Elliott | editor3-last = David | editor3-first = Christie | contribution = Family Certhiidae (Treecreepers) | title = [[Handbook of the Birds of the World]]. Volume 13, Penduline-tits to Shrikes | year = 2008 | pages =166–179 | place = Barcelona | publisher = Lynx Edicions | isbn = 978-84-96553-45-3 }}</ref>

==Behaviour and ecology==
Treecreepers are generally unobtrusive and are often indifferent to humans. They occur as singles or in pairs, sometimes in small family groups after fledging. [[Communal roosting]] has been observed in three species (and may occur in more), with as many as 20 birds sharing a roosting hole in order to conserve warmth.<ref name = "HBW"/>

Treecreepers forage on the trunks of large trees. They move up the trunk in a progression of small hops. They fly to the bottom of a tree, then climb in a spiral fashion searching for prey. The majority of their diet is composed of small invertebrates, including insects and their larvae, spiders, spider eggs, and pseudoscorpions. In hard times seeds and fruits may be taken, and a few species will also visit birdfeeders. Species in both genera have been recorded joining [[mixed-species feeding flock]]s.<ref name = "HBW"/>

The treecreepers are [[monogamy in animals|monogamous]] and [[territory (animal)|territorial]]. Nests and eggs vary between the creepers: the ''Certhia'' treecreepers usually nest in a gap between the tree bark and the tree, whereas the nest of the spotted creeper is placed in the fork of a branch.<ref name = "HBW"/> Incubation lasts 14 to 15 days, and young fledge after 15 to 16 days.<ref name=CJM/>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://ibc.lynxeds.com/family/australasian-treecreepers-climacteridae Treecreeper videos] on the Internet Bird Collection

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{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Certhiidae|*]]
[[Category:Treecreepers| ]]