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Brown Creeper

Certhia americana ORDER: PASSERIFORMES FAMILY: CERTHIIDAE

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Brown Creeper Photo

© Michael J.Hopiak / CLO

Distinctive in habits and morphology, the Brown Creeper is a small, well-camouflaged bird of woodlands. It creeps along tree trunks, spiraling upward, picking invertebrates from the bark with its curved and pointed bill.

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Appearance

Nuthatchlike
Nuthatchlike
Typical Voice

Adult Description

  • Small songbird.
  • Upperparts streaked brown and white.
  • Underparts whitish.
  • Long thin bill.
  • Long tail.
  • Creeps up tree trunks.

Immature Description

Similar to adult, but with light spotting on underparts and duller upperparts.

Range Map Help

Brown Creeper Range Map
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Field MarksHelp

Similar Species

  • Nuthatches are not streaked, and climb headfirst down tree trunks.
  • Black-and-white Warbler forages similarly, but is boldly striped black-and-white, and does not use its tail as a prop against the trunk.