White-browed Treecreeper
Climacteris affinis
Small bird with rather massive feet and pale eyebrow, most often seen running up and down the sides of trees in arid and semi-arid woodlands, especially old-growth mulga forest (unlikely to be found in eucalypts along rivers). Predominantly grayish brown with bold pale streaking on dark belly. In flight, note bold tan wingbars. Compare larger, darker Brown Treecreeper, which has less obvious streaking behind the ear and on belly and tends to spend more time on the ground. Call is a repetitive, insect-like piping.
Taxonomy
The white-browed treecreeper (Climacteris affinis) is one of 7 species of Australo-Papuan endemic treecreepers (Family: Climacteridae). Prior to the development of molecular diagnostic techniques, the relationship of Climacteridae to other avian families was long debated. Phylogenetic analysis has since revealed the family to be most closely related to bowerbirds and catbirds (Family: Ptilonorhynchidae). Together these two families are thought to represent one of the most ancient lineages of ‘songbirds’ (oscines, suborder Passeri), diverging early during the rise and radiation of oscines in Australia. The further split between Climacteridae and Ptilonorhynchidae is estimated to have occurred 58.7-35.2 million years ago.<p>Within Climacteridae, two genera are recognised Climacteris and Cormobates. Molecular analysis estimates the divergence between genera to have occurred during the Eocene-early-Miocene period. This estimate is further supported by the recovery of fossils referred to both genera within early Miocene deposits in Queensland, Australia. These ancient fossils all exhibit morphological features associated with scansorial (tree-trunk climbing), the primary mode of locomotion used during foraging by all extant species. The presence of these features suggest this foraging strategy to have evolved early within the family's evolutionary history.<p>The genus name ‘Climacteris’ is derived from the Greek term meaning ‘the rung of a ladder’, and refers to the groups tree-trunk climbing habits. The species name ‘affinis’, Latin for 'allied', refers to the species resemblance to the red-browed treecreeper (Climacteris erythrops).<p>Two subspecies are recognised:
- Scientific name
- Climacteris affinis
- Authority
- Blyth, 1863
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Climacteridae
- Genus
- Climacteris
Range and habitat
White-browed treecreepers inhabit arid and semi-arid regions across southern Australia, excluding Tasmania. The two subspecies ranges do not overlap, C. a. affinis found east of the Spencer Gulf and C. a. superciliosus to the west. White-browed Treecreepers inhabit a range of woodland and shrubland communities, dominated by either Acacia, Casuarina or Callitris species, with both dense and open understory's.<p>White-browed treecreepers are sedentary, pairs or groups actively defending relatively large territories (averaging 8.4 hectares in some regions) throughout the year.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
The white-browed treecreeper is a scansorial (tree-trunk climbing) bark-foraging specialist, feeding upon a range of invertebrates (predominantly ants) gathered from on and beneath the bark of tree trunks and branches. The climbing technique employed by the species is described as ‘inching’ by which the lower foot is lifted and brought to the level of the upper foot prior to the upper being moved higher. Such a technique differs from some other scansorial birds which lift their feet from the substrate simultaneously in a hopping or hitching fashion. Once white-browed treecreepers reach the uppermost portions of a tree they glide down to a lower position on a nearby tree to recommence climbing. The species also frequently forages on the ground among logs and leaf litter.<p>White-browed treecreepers forage alone, in small family groups or during winter within mixed-species assemblages comprising other insectivores.<p>White-browed treecreepers exhibit a number of morphological traits, primarily of the legs, feet and toes, thought to represent scansorial bark-foraging adaptations. Such traits include increased toe length (increasing the span of the foot), long strongly curved claws (assisting the gripping of substrates), increased syndactyly of the front toes and reduced pads on the sole of the foot (reducing contact of the plantar surface of the foot to the substrate). Additionally, Climacteris species are able to move the hind toe independently to that of the front toes due to a lack of some ligament within the foot. This enables finer adjustments of footings to be made.<p>White-browed treecreepers' breeding season varies across its range, commencing as early as July in the western parts of its range to August in the east, and continuing until November. White-browed treecreepers breed both as unassisted simple pairs or in cooperatively breeding units consisting of a breeding pair and 1-3 male offspring from previous years. Non-breeding male ‘helpers’ provide assistance with all nesting related activities, other than incubation and brooding (conducted by the female alone).<p>White-browed treecreepers build shallow saucer-shaped nests within tree hollows, made of bark fibres, grass, twigs and branchlets and line the nest with feathers, fur, vegetable down and wool. The female lays a clutch of 1-3 pinkish-white eggs speckled reddish and purplish-brown, which she incubates for 17–18 days. Nestlings take approximately 25–26 days to fledge upon which they remain dependent on their parents and associated ‘helpers’ for food for up to 37 days. Although up to two broods may be raised per season white-browed treecreepers have low productivity, with an average of only 1.58 young fledged per breeding unit annually.
Conservation
White-browed treecreepers are not listed as threatened on the Australian Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. However, their conservation status varies from state to state within Australia. For example:
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
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Black-and-white cuckoo with a spiffy crest (also known as the “Jacobin Cuckoo” for its smartly attired appearance). Some southern African birds exhibit a dark morph: all black with a white wing patch. Found in lowland and foothill open forests and plains, often in thorny growth. Song is a widely-spaced series of somewhat hoarse whistled notes. Lays its eggs in the nests of babblers, bulbuls, and shrikes.
Ochre-bellied Boobook
Ninox ochracea
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Stierling's Woodpecker
Dendropicos stierlingi
A medium-sized woodpecker with pale underparts that are covered with dark arrow-shaped markings. Has a bold facial pattern: crown is dark in the female and dark (forecrown) and red (hindcrown) in the male. Scarce and poorly known species that is found locally in lush patches of Miombo broadleaf woodland. Tends to feed on medium-sized and large tree branches. The calls include a weak rattling call, and a typical woodpecker “pik”. The drum is fast and repeated several times. Similar overall coloration to Bearded Woodpecker, but much smaller, without pale barring on the brown back, and with paler, arrow-marked underparts. Distinguished from other woodpeckers in its range by the unmarked brownish back.
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