common treecreeper

The common treecreeper, also known as the Eurasian treecreeper, is a small bird found in woodlands across the Northern Hemisphere. It measures about 13 cm (5 inches) long and has streaky brown-and-white plumage. Treecreepers are characterized by their downcurved bills, which they use to search for insects as they spiral up tree trunks. Their stiffened tails act as a prop against the trees, aiding their movement. The common treecreeper builds its nest, a soft cup made of rootlets, behind loose bark.1

There are also Australian treecreepers, which belong to a different family and have brush-tipped tongues, resembling honeyeaters in behavior but certhiids in appearance. Other birds, like the spotted creeper and the brown creeper of New Zealand, are also referred to as creepers but have different classifications and characteristics.12