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Photo by Neil Aldridge of a Treecreeper climbing the trunk of a tree. The mottled brown of its upper contrasts with its white underside.

Treecreeper

Certhia familiaris

© Photo by Neil Aldridge

Key Facts

  • Length: 12-13cm
  • Wingspan: 19cm
  • Weight: 10g
  • Average lifespan: 2 years

A slim, tit-sized bird, the Treecreeper has a long, pointed tail and a fine, downwards-curved bill.

Treecreepers climb up trees in a spiral around the trunk, feeding on insects and spiders that they find in crevices in the bark. They are residents in the UK, leaving their breeding territories in autumn but usually going no further than a few kilometres. In autumn and winter, Treecreepers will join flocks of tits, roaming woods and parks for food.

How to Identify

Unmistakable: Treecreepers are mottled brown above and white below.

Where to Find

Widespread.

How People Can Help

You can help to look after Treecreepers and other garden birds by providing food and water for them – it doesn’t matter if you have a big garden or live in a high-rise flat, there are plenty of feeders, baths and food choices out there to suit all kinds of situations. To find out more about encouraging wildlife into your garden, visit our Wild About Gardens website: a joint initiative with the RHS, there’s plenty of facts and tips to get you started.

Did you know?

The closely-related Short-toed Treecreeper is found in the Channel Islands but does appear in the UK on rare occasions.

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