- Salpornis spilonota
Identification
Its plumage is strongly spotted and barred and it has a thin pointed down-curved bill, which it uses to extricate insects from bark; it lacks the stiff tail feathers which the true treecreepers use to support themselves on vertical trees.
Distribution
Northern India (eastern Rajasthan and Gujarat east to Bihar).
Taxonomy
S. s. rajputanae
Open-wing detail
Photo © by Alok Tewari
Talchhapar Blackbuck Sanctuary, Churu, Rajasthan, India
24 February 2022
Open-wing detail
Photo © by Alok Tewari
Talchhapar Blackbuck Sanctuary, Churu, Rajasthan, India
24 February 2022
This is a monotypic species[1].
Some authorities accept two subspecies[2]:
- S. s. spilonota
- India from eastern Gujarat and southern Haryana east to northern Uttar Pradesh and northern Bihar, south to eastern Maharashtra, northern Andhra Pradesh, and southeastern Madhya Pradesh); also Goa
- S. s. rajputanae
- West central India (central and southeastern Rajasthan)
It was formerly included in Spotted Creeper.
Habitat
Open deciduous forest and woodlands and mangrove swamps.
Behaviour
Breeding
Nests in tree crevices.
Vocalisation
Recording by Alok Tewari
Talchhapar Blackbuck Sanctuary, Churu, Rajasthan, India, 24 February 2022
A pair was courting in the trees on the forest-edge; Both call and song are heard in this recording.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, S. M. Billerman, T. A. Fredericks, J. A. Gerbracht, D. Lepage, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2021. The eBird/Clements checklist of Birds of the World: v2021. Downloaded from https://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Avibase
- Birdforum thread discussing the potential split of this species
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Indian Spotted Creeper. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 5 February 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Indian_Spotted_Creeper
External Links
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1
