WHITE-THROATED TREE CREEPERS IN FRED CATERSON RESERVE

The White-throated Treecreeper is a small insect-eating bird coloured mainly dark brown, with a distinctive white throat and chest, and white streaks on its flanks, edged with black. The wings have a red bar that is visible in flight and the undertail is barred. The female has an orange mark on the sides of her face.

Like other treecreepers, it spends most of its time foraging in trees and has a short, spiralling flight. It typically flies to the base of an adjacent tree, then rapidly makes its way up the trunk often spiralling around it and out onto a branch, constantly looking for insects on or under the bark, before repeating this behaviour. If you see a bird doing this, it is very likely to be a treecreeper. Hence the name!

It is found in south-eastern and southern mainland Australia, mostly on the eastern side of the Great Dividing Range, and prefers forests, including rainforests, woodlands and timbered river areas. Rarely seen on the ground, it lives in permanent territories. It is regularly seen in Fred Caterson Reserve.

This bird requires mature trees for breeding. The nest is made in a tree cavity, which is lined with bark, fur and hair. Though the female White-throated Treecreeper alone builds the nest and incubates the eggs, both sexes care for the young. 

Did you know? The White-throated Treecreeper mainly eats ants.

Information provided by BirdLife Southern NSW in conjunction with BirdLife Australia's Birds in Backyards Program.