Family Certkiidce Brown Creeper 55 



FAMILY CERTHIID^J 



12. BROWN CREEPER 



( Certhia fa mi liar is americana ) . 



Upper parts mottled brown, black, and flaxen with a tawny tinge 

 upon the rump ; under parts grayish white. Beak very long, 

 slender, and decurved, upper mandible dark, lower one light; 

 feet slender, dark ; tail with its quills pointed. Bird rather less 

 than two-thirds the size of a sparrow. Sexes similar, save that 

 the female is somewhat smaller. 



THIS inconspicuous little bird spends the entire 

 year with us, but is more abundant in spring and 

 fall than at any other time, and more abundant 

 in winter than in summer. At the latter season he 

 frequents thick and sheltered woods, but in spring 

 and fall he is to be found in open woodland or 

 parks. He may be recognized as soon as seen, for 

 he is the only little brown bird we have which has 

 the habit of winding spirally up the tree trunks. 

 Moreover, he often betrays his presence by a faint, 

 lisping chirp, one of the weakest of all bird notes. 

 It is difficult, however, to watch him; for if he sus- 

 pects an observer he is very likely to dodge to the 

 other side of the trunk. He is said to prefer trees 

 with rough bark, which are more likely to harbor 



