Sikkim Treecreeper

The Sikkim treecreeper, Certhia discolor, is a diminutive and agile bird, a member of the treecreeper family. It is adorned with a plumage that blends seamlessly with the bark of trees, an adaptation that aids in its arboreal lifestyle.

Identification Tips

This species can be identified by its slender, down-curved bill, perfect for probing into crevices. Its upperparts exhibit a mottled brown pattern, while the underparts are paler. The Sikkim treecreeper's white supercilium is a distinctive feature, contrasting with its brown head.

Habitat

The Sikkim treecreeper is at home in temperate forests as well as subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, where it can be seen deftly navigating the trunks and branches of trees.

Distribution

This bird graces the landscapes of Bhutan, Nepal, and Northeast India, where it is a resident species, intricately woven into the fabric of these regions' ecosystems.

Behaviour

The Sikkim treecreeper exhibits a remarkable ability to ascend tree trunks, employing its stiff tail feathers for support as it searches for insects hidden within the bark.

Similar Species

The form C. d. manipurensis, found in southern Manipur and southwestern Burma, was once considered a variant of the Sikkim treecreeper. However, it boasts a rich cinnamon throat and breast, and molecular evidence has led to its recognition as a separate species, the Hume's treecreeper, C. manipurensis.

Conservation status

The Sikkim treecreeper is currently classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, indicating that, for now, this species is not at immediate risk of decline.