Common Treecreeper

Certhia familiaris (Linnaeus, 1758)

2012-11-20 Kokorya, Altai Republic.	© Sergey Pisarevskiy

Biology

Rare resident, or in some places rare winter visitor. Inhabits the coniferous, mixed and deciduous mountain forests, especially old forests with mossy trees, at altitudes 1400-2500 m; out of breeding season occurs in gardens, groves and villages. Pairs are formed in March, nest is constructed in April – May. Nest is located in spruce, larch, birch tree-holes, under the bark, in stump cavities, under the house roof, in crevice between boards, and very rare in fork of branches, at height 0.5-4 m above the ground. Nest is built by female for about two weeks, from thin spruce twigs, dry grass, moss and bast and is lined with hair and plenty of feathers. Clutches of 4-9, usually 5-7 eggs is laid in early May – mid-June. Only female incubates clutch for 15-16 days, male bring her the food. Both parents feed juveniles which fledge at age 22-23 days old, in early June to early July. From October to February disperses singly or in small groups outside of breeding places.

References