Hodgson's treecreeper facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hodgson's treecreeper |
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| Presumably nominate subspecies Kullu District (Himachal Pradesh, India) |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Certhia
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| Species: |
hodgsoni
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| Range in pink Common treecreeper range in light green |
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| Synonyms | |
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Certhia familiaris hodgsoni Brooks, 1871 |
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The Hodgson's treecreeper (Certhia hodgsoni) is a small passerine bird that lives in the southern parts of the Himalayas. It's named after Brian Houghton Hodgson, an English naturalist from the 1800s. For a long time, scientists thought this bird was just a type of common treecreeper. But recently, they found out it's actually its own unique species!
Contents
What Does It Look Like?
This is a small bird, about 12.5 cm (4.9 in) long. That's about the length of a pen! It has a brownish body with lighter and darker stripes on its back. Its belly is off-white, and it has a light stripe above its eye. This bird is a bit browner on top than its cousin, the common treecreeper. It also has a reddish-brown patch on its lower back.
The Hodgson's treecreeper has a long, curved beak. It also has long, stiff tail feathers. These special tail feathers help the bird climb straight up tree trunks.
Its Song
The song of the Hodgson's treecreeper starts with two short calls, like "shree." Then, it sings one or a few warbling sounds. Finally, it usually adds two notes that go up and down in pitch. Each sound lasts about 0.3 seconds, and the whole song takes about 2 to 2.5 seconds.
Where Does It Live?
The Hodgson's treecreeper can be found in several countries. These include Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan.
It likes to live in cool mountain forests. You'll often find it in forests with conifer trees, like pine or fir. In winter, it might move to slightly lower areas where there are oak or rhododendron trees. For example, in Bhutan, you can find it all year round in moist Bhutan fir forests. These forests are usually between 3,000 and 4,000 meters (about 9,800 to 13,000 feet) above sea level.
What Does It Eat?
This bird uses its long, curved beak to search for arthropods (like insects and spiders) on tree trunks. It creeps up the trees, using its stiff tail feathers to brace itself.
Reproduction and Nesting
Hodgson's treecreepers build their nests in cracks or holes in trees. A typical nest will have 4 to 6 eggs. These eggs are pinkish-white with reddish-brown spots.
Is It Endangered?
Even though this bird doesn't move around much and its home range is spread out, it's still quite common. The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) lists the Hodgson's treecreeper as a species of "least concern." This means scientists are not worried about it becoming endangered right now.
