White-throated Treecreeper

Cormobates leucophaea

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Quick facts

Size: Averages 14 cm long including tail, 20 g.

Range and lifestyle: Found throughout much of eastern Australia, except the inland and far north, these birds live in small territories all year-round.

Food: Insects and their larvae, especially ants.

Breeding: The nest is a cup of bark, lined with soft materials, built in a tree hollow. The female lays 2-3 mostly white eggs and incubates them for 22-23 days, though her mate feeds her on and off the nest.

Although Australia lacks woodpeckers, which are found all over the rest of the world, the endemic Australian treecreepers forage in a similar way, climbing up tree trunks and along branches, then gliding down to a lower point on the next tree. They sometimes even climb upside down, aided by the long sharp claws on their feet.
Their common call, consisting of repeated loud, high-pitched notes may go on for several minutes, but the male also makes beautiful trilling songs to communicate with his partner or birds in neighbouring territories.
This species is quite anti-social, so they never occur in groups, other than when parents have young ones to raise.