Sikkim Treecreeper
Certhia discolor
褐喉旋木雀
Introduction
The Sikkim treecreeper is a small passerine bird of the treecreeper family. It is endemic to the Himalayas, occurring in Bhutan, Nepal, and Northeast India. Its habitat consists of temperate and subtropical moist broadleaf and mixed forests. It forages for invertebrates by climbing tree trunks in a spiral pattern, using stiff tail feathers for support. It forages at middle to upper canopy levels. The species has cryptic plumage that camouflages against tree bark.
Description
As a member of the treecreeper family, this species displays the characteristic morphology of its group: a slender body, relatively long tail with stiff feathers that serve as a prop while climbing, and a thin, downcurved bill adapted for extracting invertebrates from bark crevices. The upperparts are cryptically colored to blend with tree bark, providing effective camouflage in its forest habitat. The subspecies C. d. manipurensis is distinguished by notably rich cinnamon coloration on the throat and breast.
Identification
Field identification can be challenging due to the species' cryptic plumage and specialized foraging behavior. The thin, downcurved bill and stiff tail feathers are characteristic field marks of the treecreeper family. The rich cinnamon coloration on the throat and breast of the manipurensis subspecies helps distinguish that population. This species is best identified by its distinctive climbing behavior and habitat preferences rather than visual characteristics alone.
Distribution & Habitat
This species occupies a restricted range across the Eastern Himalayan region, being found in Bhutan, Nepal, and the northeastern states of India. It inhabits temperate forests and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, showing a preference for broadleaf and mixed forest environments. The species typically forages at middle to upper levels within the forest structure. The form manipurensis, now considered a separate species (Hume's treecreeper), occurs in southern Manipur and southwestern Burma.
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0
Taxonomy
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Certhiidae
- Genus
- Certhia
- eBird Code
- bnttre1
Distribution
Himalayas of Nepal to southern Tibet and northwestern India
Data Sources
Species description from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Bird images and sounds sourced from GBIF, contributed by citizen scientists worldwide under Creative Commons licenses.
Taxonomy data from AviList 2025.