THE BIRD BOOK 



CREEPERS. Family CERTHIID^ 



Brown Creeper 



726. Brown Creeper. Certhia familiaris 

 americana. 



Range. — Eastern North America, breeding 

 from the northern tier of states northward; 

 winters in the United States. 



These peculiar, weak-voiced Creepers are 

 common in northern United States during the 

 winter, when they may be seen slowly toiling 

 up the tree trunks, searching the 

 crannies of the bark for larvae. 

 They make their nests behind 

 loose hanking bark on old tree 

 stubs, usually at low elevations, 

 building them of twigs, bark, 

 moss, etc., held together with 

 cobwebs. The eggs, which are laid in May 

 or June, are pure white, specked and spotted 

 with reddish brown; they average in size .58 

 x .48. The nests are most often found under 

 the loosened bark on coniferous trees. 



726a. Mexican Creeper. Certhia familiaris albescens. 



Range. — Western Mexico north to southern Arizona. 



The nesting habits of this brighter colored form are the same as those of 

 the others. 



726b. Rocky Mountain Creeper. Certhia familiaris montana. 



Range. — Rocky Mountains, breeding from New Mexico to Alaska. 

 The eggs of this grayer variety cannot be distinguished from those of the 

 eastern birds and the nests are in similar situations. 



726c. California Creeper. Certhia familiaris occidentalis. 



Range. — Pacific coast from southern California north to Alaska. 

 An abundant species, especially on mountatin ranges, breeding behind the 

 bark chiefly on pine trees. The eggs are not different from those of the others. 



726d. Sierra Creeper. Certhia familiaris zelotes. 



Range. — Sierra Nevada Mountains in California and the Cascade Range in 

 Oregon. 



Very similar to the last and with the same habits; eggs indistinguishable. 



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