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Brown Treecreeper (Climacteris picumnus) Alternate name(s): "Black Treecreeper"; misnomer: "Woodpecker*" Aboriginal name(s): "bibi", "bibii" [yuwaalaraay, gamilaraay] Size: 16-19 cm; wing span: ca. 26 cm Body mass: 31-33 g Wing loading [g/cm2]: ca. 0.25-0.33

Australia: Family Group 15 Family Group 15 Table Noisy Pitta Rainbow Pitta Superb Lyrebird Albert's Lyrebird Noisy Scrub-bird Rufous Scrub-bird Rufous Bristlebird Western Bristlebird Black-tailed Treecreeper Red-browed Treecreeper White-browed Treecreeper Brown Treecreeper Rufous Treecreeper White-throated Treecreeper Eurasian Hoopoe Thumbnails page Family group table Index of bird names Habitat pages Key plants Birds home page

Similar species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description Click here for a physical description Brown Treecreepers have a grey cap and neck, dark greyish-brown back, dark-brown upperwings with a rufous wing patch, a white throat, grey chest and heavily streaked belly. The vent is white with dark-brown barring. They have streaked light- and mid-brown ear patches. The eyebrows are greyish-brown. Male Brown Treecreepers have some inconspicuous black and white chest marks while those of females are chestnut and white. The irises of both sexes are dark, the bill, legs and feet are all dark-grey. Race "melanotus" has by far the darkest upperparts. Juveniles have less colour contrast in their facial markings, with buff supercilia, and they lack the chest marks. Twitcher's tip Compared to White-browed Treecreepers, Brown Treecreepers have a darker (greyish brown) eyebrow. All other Australian species of treecreepers are noticeably darker.

Taxonomy, classification See Brown Treecreeper at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species Click here for information on habitat and range The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found, based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to ebird.org . The global distribution of the Brown Treecreeper is available HERE . Brown Treecreepers are endemic to Australia. Together, the three races of Brown Treecreeper populate large parts of QLD, NSW, VIC and the south-eastern tip of SA. Race "melanotus" is found in northern QLD, in a region from near the tip to just southward of the base of Cape York peninsula. Further South, beyond a line connecting Charters Towers and Townsville, QLD, throughout the rest of the total range (roughly sub-tropical QLD, inland NSW and the SE corner of SA), nominate race "picumnus" is found, except: In the NSW and VIC hills of the Great Dividing Range there is race "victoriae". Brown Treecreepers can be found in open forests and open woodland. They tend to stick to the edges of open areas, such as e.g. along rivers or creeks, clearings or forest edges.

Sightings Click here for sighting information Race "picumnus" A Brown Treecreeper, race "picumnus", was first spotted by us in the Flinders Ranges, SA, in March 2008. M. Mearns spotted Brown Treecreepers, race "picumnus", at Currawinya NP, near Hungerford, QLD, in October 2012. Next, race "picumnus" was found in the Pilliga West SCA, 25 km South of Pilliga, NSW, in December 2015. They were also found by V. Collins and ourselves at Merriwindi SCA, near Kenebri, NSW, in January 2021. We found Brown Treecreepers, race "picumnus", at Culgoa Floodplain NP, QLD, in September 2017. M. Eaton reports finding Brown Treecreepers, race "picumnus", at Bowra Wildlife Sanctuary, near Cunnamulla, QLD, in September 2017. They were found again at the same location in June 2022. Race "victoriae" Brown Treecreepers, race "victoriae", came to the place where we lived until 2006, 20 km South of Narrabri, NSW, quite regularly. We also saw them in the adjacent bushland, in Jack's Creek State Forest. Brown Treecreepers, race "victoriae", are seen and heard by us regularly in the area of Deriah Aboriginal Area, 30 km East of Narrabri, in the years 2007 to date. Together with White-throated Treecreepers, they are the most common species of treecreeper in the area. They do not come to open farm country, only 10 km further West. Brown Treecreepers, race "victoriae", have been found by us in various other locations in inland NSW, such as e.g. in October 2005 near Bingara, NSW, then 30 km North of Coonabarabran in April 2006 and 50 km North-East of Narrabri in September 2008. They are also found regularly in the ara of Maules Creek and (still) Leard State Forest. R. Plumtree reports finding Brown Treecreepers, race "victoriae", nesting near Ensay South, East Gippsland, VIC, in October 2015. Race "melanotus" J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours reports finding Brown Treecreepers, race "melanotus", at the Tropical Wetlands Forever Wild Shared Earth Reserve, Cape York peninsula, QLD, in December 2019.

Photos

Race "picumnus"

ADULT

PAIR

Many bird species exhibit sexual dimorphism, i.e., male and female have differing appearances which can be quite subtle.
Note the Brown Treecreepers' faint chest markings - the male's, on the left, are black while the female's are rufous.

MALE

Near-frontal view of a male Brown Treecreeper calling; note the black chest markings (photo courtesy of M. Mearns)
[Currawinya NP, near Hungerford, QLD, October 2012]

Near-lateral view of a male Brown Treecreeper (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Currawinya NP, near Hungerford, QLD, October 2012]

Near-lateral view of a male Brown Treecreeper (photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Pilliga West SCA, NSW, March 2021]

FEMALE

Near-frontal view of a female Brown Treecreeper - note the rufous chest marking (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Bowra Wildlife Sanctuary, near Cunnamulla, QLD, September 2017]

Near-frontal view of a female Brown Treecreeper calling - note the tail action (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Bowra Wildlife Sanctuary, near Cunnamulla, QLD, September 2017]

Close-up near-dorsal view of a female Brown Treecreeper clinging to the trunk of a tree
[Pilliga West SCA, NSW, May 2022]

Sex unknown

Near-frontal view of a Brown Treecreeper (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Bowra Wildlife Sanctuary, near Cunnamulla, QLD, September 2017]

Close-up lateral view of a Brown Treecreeper (photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Merriwindi SCA, near Kenebri, NSW, January 2021]

Lateral view of a Brown Treecreeper (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Bowra Wildlife Sanctuary, near Cunnamulla, QLD, June 2022]

Lateral view of a Brown Treecreeper (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Bowra Wildlife Sanctuary, near Cunnamulla, QLD, June 2022]

Lateral/ventral view of a Brown Treecreeper
[Pilliga Wetlands Walk, NSW, June 2024]

Near-dorsal view of a Brown Treecreeper (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Bowra Wildlife Sanctuary, near Cunnamulla, QLD, September 2017]

Dorsal view of a Brown Treecreeper looking backwards (photo courtesy of M. Mearns)
[Currawinya NP, near Hungerford, QLD, October 2012]

Dorsal view of a Brown Treecreeper
[Pilliga Wetlands Walk, NSW, June 2024]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Close-up dorsal view of a juvenile(?) Brown Treecreeper looking sideways (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Bowra Wildlife Sanctuary, near Cunnamulla, QLD, September 2017]

Race "victoriae"

ADULT

MALE

Near-lateral view of an adult (male?) Brown Treecreeper on a dead branch; this bird was watching over its recently fledged chicks, one of which is shown further below
[Deriah Aboriginal Area, NSW, November 2008]

Lateral view of a male(?) Brown Treecreeper foraging in a yard; they are the only species of treecreeper known to us that regularly feeds on the ground
[Near Coonabarabran, NSW, April 2006]

Lateral view of a male(?) Brown Treecreeper, now in a more upright stance
[Near Coonabarabran, NSW, April 2006]

Male(?) Brown Treecreeper climbing up a tree trunk; note the prominent back toe, which helps give the bird a good foothold on vertical surfaces
[October 2007]

FEMALE

Frontal view of a female Brown Treecreeper on a tree trunk; the characteristic rufous chest markings are faint, but discernible
[20 km South of Narrabri, NSW, May 2012]

Near-frontal view of a female Brown Treecreeper on a tree trunk
[20 km South of Narrabri, NSW, May 2012]

Near-lateral view of a Brown Treecreeper on the ground; the clearly visible rufous marks on the chest, between the fawn throat and the grey band, indicate that this is a female
[Near Warialda, NSW, August 2015]

Sex unknown

Dorsal view of a Brown Treecreeper
[20 km South of Narrabri, NSW, October 2008]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Partly obscured near-frontal view of a juvenile Brown Treecreeper - note the pale gape
[Leard State Forest, NSW, November 2013]

Ventral view of a fledgling Brown Treecreeper
[Deriah Aboriginal Area, NSW, November 2008]

Juvenile Brown Treecreeper, upper right, waiting to be fed with what looks like a caterpillar by one of its parents, lower left
(photo courtesy of R. Druce)
[Leard State Forest, NSW, November 2013]

Race "melanotus"

ADULT

Sex unknown

Lateral view of a Brown Treecreeper (photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Tropical Wetlands Forever Wild Shared Earth Reserve, Cape York peninsula, QLD, December 2019]

Breeding information

Breeding season: Jun - Jan

Eggs: 2 - 3

Incubation period: 16-17 days

Fledging age: 20-25 days

Nest building: ?

Incubation: Female

Dependent care: Family clan

The family clan, including young from a previous brood, will also feed the incubating female.

Nest

"bungobittah", "lar", "malunna", "jindi" [bundjalung] = nest [Aboriginal]

Type: Tree hollow

Material: Grass or bark lining

Height above ground: 1 - ? m

All species of Australian treecreepers build grass (and/or bark) nests inside tree hollows, either in tree trunks or dead limbs.

Near-dorsal view of a Brown Treecreeper at the entrance of its nest hollow
[20 km South of Narrabri, NSW, September 2015]

Lateral view of a Brown Treecreeper bringing a juicy larva for one of its chicks
[20 km South of Narrabri, NSW, September 2015]

One of two Brown Treecreeper chicks peeking out of the opening, revealing that it is close to fledging age
[20 km South of Narrabri, NSW, September 2015]

Two Brown Treecreeper chicks approaching fledging age peeking out of their nest hollow (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Bowra Wildlife Sanctuary, SW QLD, October 2012]

Brown Treecreeper chicks peeking out of the nest hollow (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Ensay South, East Gippsland, VIC, October 2015]

This Brown Treecreeper chick can hardly wait to take off (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Ensay South, East Gippsland, VIC, October 2015]

Dorsal view of a Brown Treecreeper on a dead tree limb with its nest inside
[Pilliga scrub, NSW, December 2018]

Look into the hollow with a Brown Treecreeper nest inside
[Pilliga scrub, NSW, December 2018]

Eggs

"boyanga", "booyanga", "derinya", "dirandil", "koomura", "mirk", "ngampu", "nooluk", "pateena", "pum-pum" = Egg; "dirundirri" = eggs [Aboriginal]; "gawu" = eggs [gamilaraay]

Size: 23 x 18 mm

Colour: White, with mid-brown speckles

Shape: Tapered oval

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Territorial

Mobility: Sedentary

Elementary unit: Pair

Of the treecreepers known to us, the Brown Treecreeper is the only one that spends a significant amount of time on the ground.

Near-lateral view of a Brown Treecreeper on the ground; the clearly visible rufous marks on the chest, between the fawn throat and the grey band, indicate that this is a female
[Near Warialda, NSW, August 2015]

Lateral view of a male(?) Brown Treecreeper foraging in a yard; they are the only species of treecreeper known to us that regularly feeds on the ground
[Near Coonabarabran, NSW, April 2006]

Lateral view of a male(?) Brown Treecreeper, now in a more upright stance
[Near Coonabarabran, NSW, April 2006]

Food, Diet

Like all treecreepers, Brown Treecreepers forage for insects in the bark of trees and fallen timber. Brown Treecreepers also forage on the ground.

Near-dorsal view of a Brown Treecreeper collecting food for its brood
[Near Warialda, NSW, August 2015]

Juvenile Brown Treecreeper looking for insects in the bark of an ironbark eucalypt
[Leard State Forest, NSW, November 2013]

Call(s)/Song

For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The interpretation of their meaning is our own; comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.

brtrcrp_20240227_3.m4a	picumnus (NW NSW)	Warning/alarm calls(?)	© MD
brtrcrp_20211031.m4a	picumnus (NW NSW)	Warning/alarm calls(?)	© MD
brtrcrp_20170919.m4a	picumnus (SW QLD)	Female in nest hollow, leaves, joins warning male	© MD
brtrcrp_20250223.m4a	picumnus (NW NSW)	?	© MD
brtrcrp_20141023.mp3	victoriae (NW NSW)	Contact calls (quick)	© MD
brtrcrp_20140612.mp3	victoriae (NW NSW)	Contact calls (quick)	© MD
brtrcrp_20210320.m4a	victoriae (NW NSW)	Warning calls (pair)	© MD
brtrcrp_20200815.m4a	victoriae (NW NSW)	Alarm calls (pair)	© MD
brtrcrp_20210320_2.m4a	victoriae (NW NSW)	Alarm calls	© MD
brtrcrp_20200815_2.m4a	victoriae (NW NSW)	? (pair)	© MD

More Brown Treecreeper sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

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