Brown Creeper

(Certhia americana)

Conservation Status
Brown Creeper
Photo by Ramona Abrego
  IUCN Red List

LC - Least Concern

 
  NatureServe

N5 - Secure

SNRB, SNRN - Unranked Breeding and Nonbreeding

 
  Minnesota

not listed

 
           
           
           
           
           
 
Description
 
 

Brown Creeper is very well camouflaged. The head, upperside, and wings are a dark dull brown heavily mottled with brownish-white. When still on a tree trunk, it is difficult to distinguish from the bark. The rump is rich rusty brown. The tail is relatively long. The underparts are dull white. There is a white “eyebrow” streak above the eye. The bill is curved downward.

 
     
 

Size

 
 

5 to 5½ in length

7½ wingspan

 
     
 

Voice

 
   
 

A series of 5 or 6 high-pitched notes, 1 long followed by 4 or 5 shorter, lasting about 1½ seconds. Described as trees, beautiful trees, or trees-trees-trees see the trees.

 
     
 

Similar Species

 
  No similar species in North America  
     
 
Habitat
 
 

Mature, deciduous, coniferous and mixed forest, especially wet areas with large dead trees

 
     
 
Ecology
 
 

Behavior

 
 

When foraging, the brown creeper begins near the bottom of a tree and moves upward with quick jerky movements, sometimes in a spiral around the tree trunk, leaning on its relatively long tail for support. White-breasted Nuthatch often moves downward, starting near the top of a tree trunk, though it can also move upward or sideways. The different direction of movement exposes different bark crevices to each species.

 
     
 

Migration

 
 

Mid-March to late May and September through November.

 
     
 

Nesting

 
 

 

 
     
 

Food

 
 

In the warm season, insects, insect larvae, spiders, spider eggs, and pseudoscorpions. In the winter, seeds and other vegetable matter.

 
     
 
Distribution
 
 

Occurrence

 
 

Very widespread in North America. In Minnesota, uncommon to local breeder, uncommon to occasionally common migrant, uncommon winter resident.

 
         
 

Maps

 
 

The Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union All Seasons Species Occurrence Map

 
         
 
Taxonomy
 
  Class Aves (birds)  
 

Order

Passeriformes (perching birds)  
 

Family

Certhiidae (treecreepers)  
 

Genus

Certhia (typical treecreepers)  
       
 

Subordinate Taxa

 
 

Northern Group

Brown Creeper (Certhia americana alascensis)

Northeastern Brown Creeper (Certhia americana americana)

Brown Creeper (Certhia americana leucosticta)

Brown Creeper (Certhia americana montana)

Brown Creeper (Certhia americana nigrescens)

Brown Creeper (Certhia americana occidentalis)

Brown Creeper (Certhia americana phillipsi)

Haida Creeper (Certhia americana stewarti)

Brown Creeper (Certhia americana zelotes)

 

Southern Group

Brown Creeper (Certhia americana alticola)

Brown Creeper (Certhia americana guerrerensis)

Brown Creeper (Certhia americana jaliscensis)

Guatemalan Brown Creeper (Certhia americana pernigra)

Honduran Brown Creeper (Certhia americana extima)

Mexican Brown Creeper (Certhia americana albescens)

 
       
 

Synonyms

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
Visitor Photos
 
           
 

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Greg Watson

 
    Brown Creeper      
 

Dan W. Andree

 
 

"Brown Creeper"...

In the woods along the Wild Rice River in Norman Co. Mn. Jan. 2021. They can blend in well with the tree trunks and branches.

  Brown Creeper  
           
        Brown Creeper  
 

Ramona Abrego

 
    Brown Creeper      
 

Laurie Wachholz

 
    Brown Creeper      
           
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos
 
 

 

 
           

 

Camera

 

     
 
Slideshows
 
Brown Creeper
Allen Chartier
  Brown Creeper  
Brown Creeper
JMC Nature Photos
  Brown Creeper  

 

slideshow

       
 
Visitor Videos
 
       
 

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Other Videos
 
  Brown Creeper (Certhia americana) Foraging Behavior
Carl Barrentine
 
   
 
About

Published on May 9, 2013

Normal and slow-motion views of a Brown Creeper (Certhiidae: Certhia americana) foraging for arthropods on the trunk and branches of a green ash. Photographed at Grand Forks, North Dakota (09 May 2013)

   
  Brown Creeper (Certhia americana)
Mark George
 
   
 
About

Published on Apr 1, 2013

Filmed in Western Canada

   
  Brown Creeper (Certhiidae: Certhia americana) Foraging
Carl Barrentine
 
   
 
About

Uploaded on Oct 23, 2009

Photographed at Grand Forks, North Dakota (22 October 2009).

   
  Brown Creeper Bringing Food to the Nest
Larry Jordan
 
   
 
About

Published on Jul 24, 2012

Brown Creepers (Certhia americana) at Lassen Volcanic National Park were found bringing food to their nest. I didn't see the nest at first and the birds were flying around me and vocalizing, flying from tree to tree and climbing, then flying near me and chirping at me. I finally figured out that I was near the nest opening and backed off to where they could get in to feed their young. You can see the adults going into the top of the nest opening and a few seconds later, coming out another adjacent opening lower between the bark. At the end of the video, I show you the actual entrance from the side where the adults are accessing the nest.

   
  Brown Creeper
Eco Nut
 
   
 
About

Uploaded on Oct 3, 2010

http://gregjoder.wordpress.com/ ~ I found this Brown creeper upside-down on my deck -- I suspect it hit my living room window. It was really cool outside so I held the bird in my hand to keep it warm and until I felt it was getting better. I then let it latch on to the Aspen where it sat for a few more minutes before flying off. I hope there was no lasting damage...

   

 

Camcorder

 
 
Visitor Sightings
 
           
 

Report a sighting of this bird.

 
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  Greg Watson
4/21/2022

Location: Eagles Bluff Park, La Crescent, MN

Brown Creeper  
  Dan W. Andree
1/7/2021

Location: Norman Co. Mn.

In the woods along the Wild Rice River in Norman Co. Mn. Jan. 2021. They can blend in well with the tree trunks and branches.

Brown Creeper  
  Ramona Abrego

Location: Washington County

Brown Creeper  
  Tamara G.
12/12/2017

Location: SW Rochester, MN

Came in at the same time as a Downy Woodpecker and a Chickadee

 
           
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings
 
   

 

 

Binoculars

 

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