Indian Spotted Creeper

The Indian spotted creeper, Salpornis spilonota, is a small passerine bird with a distinctive marbled black and white plumage. This cryptic coloration renders it nearly invisible against the dark, deeply fissured bark of trees. Weighing up to 16 grams and reaching lengths of up to 15 cm, it is notably heavier than similar-sized treecreepers. The species exhibits a thin, down-curved bill, longer than its head, which is adept at extracting insects from crevices in the bark. Unlike treecreepers, it lacks stiff tail feathers for support while navigating tree trunks vertically.

Identification Tips

Upon closer inspection, one can discern the Indian spotted creeper's whitish supercilium contrasting with a dark eye stripe and white throat. Its wings are long and pointed, with a highly reduced first primary feather, and it possesses a square tail with twelve feathers. Both sexes share the same plumage, making them indistinguishable in the field.

Habitat

The Indian spotted creeper favors environments with trees that have deeply fissured bark, such as those of Acacia, Diospyros, Tectona, and mango, where it can forage effectively.

Distribution

This bird is endemic to northern and central peninsular India, with scattered populations across Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, central India, Orissa, and northern Andhra Pradesh.

Behaviour

The Indian spotted creeper is typically observed alone or within mixed-species flocks, foraging on tree trunks from the base upwards and occasionally on horizontal branches. Its flight is undulating, and it may appear somewhat clumsy when descending to the base of a tree. The species feeds on small insects and spiders found on the bark.

Song & Calls

The calls of the Indian spotted creeper consist of a series of rising "tui-tui-tui" notes, while its song is a plaintive series of whistled notes "tsip-tsee tuu tuui-tuwee," reminiscent of a sunbird's melody.

Breeding

Breeding occurs from February to May. The nest, a cup made of roots and stalks, is often placed at the junction of a horizontal branch and the trunk, camouflaged with spider webs, caterpillar frass, and lichen. The clutch typically contains two greenish or gray eggs, spotted and blotched with brown. Incubation is performed by the female, who is provisioned by the male.

Similar Species

While similar in some respects to treecreepers and nuthatches, the Indian spotted creeper can be distinguished by its unique plumage and the absence of stiff tail feathers.

Diet and Feeding

The Indian spotted creeper's diet consists primarily of small insects and spiders, which it gleans from the crevices of tree bark using its specialized bill.

Conservation status

The IUCN Red List currently classifies the Indian spotted creeper as Least Concern, indicating a stable population without significant immediate threats to its survival.