Alternative names: Chestnut-bellied Treecreeper; Allied Treecreeper (wellsi)
- Climacteris melanurus
Climacteris melanura
Identification
16-19cm.
Male:
- Brownish-black upperparts and head
- Belly dull rufous
- Black throat with white streaks
Female:
- Like male but white throat
- Chestnut and white chest stripes
Wellsi is slightly smaller and brighter.
The lack of an eyebrow is a good field mark compared with other Treecreepers.
Distribution
Northwestern Australia: found in Northern Territory, Queensland and Western Australia
Taxonomy
Subspecies
There are 2 subspecies[1]:
- C. m. melanurus in northern West Australia and northern Northern Territory, also northwest Queensland.
- C. m. wellsi in the Pilbara region (Western Australia)
Wellsi has been considered a full species in the past, Allied Treecreeper.
Forms a superspecies with Brown Treecreeper and Rufous Treecreeper.
The scientific name was spelled melanura in the past.
Habitat
Eucalypt forest, woodlands, savannas.
Behaviour
Photo by Mike Bouette
Nullagine river, Western Australia, July 2015
Diet
The diet includes ants, beetles, larvae, spiders, which are gleaned as the bird hangs upside down on a tree; nectar and seeds are taken on rare occasions.
Breeding
They nest in tree hollows. The clutch consists of 1-3 brown marked, white to pinkish eggs. Incubation takes from 14–24 days, and fledging from 25–27 days.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2016. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2016, with updates to August 2016. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Del Hoyo, J, A Elliott, and D Christie, eds. 2007. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 12: Picathartes to Tits and Chickadees. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8496553422
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Black-tailed Treecreeper. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 13 September 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Black-tailed_Treecreeper
External Links
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