Unknown Bird again [PIC] (1 Viewer)

maxfoto2003

Well-known member

• Jul 13, 2003

• #1

hello gang

I need you help again! I was looking and waiting if I heard the hoopoe again and while I was waiting and looking through my lens I noticed this little creature. It did not make any sound at all. He was also sitting and 'walking' against the tree so that is not a problem with his claws.

Do you have any idea what it is? He was sitting and eating on a palm tree, with a lot of tiny flies around I guess (well I can see his beak anyway)

Thanks for thinking and looking.

and.. I will certainly hunt further for the hoopoe but it is sooooo hot here!

PS Picture is taken in SPAIN !

 

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Last edited: Jul 13, 2003

Charles Harper

Régisseur

• Jul 13, 2003

• #2

Hey, you got a tree creeper. Don't know which one-- I'll leave that to the Brit experts.

 

Michael Frankis

conehead

• Jul 13, 2003

• #3

Short-toed Treecreeper (Boomkruiper in Dutch)

Michael

 

maxfoto2003

Well-known member

• Jul 13, 2003

• #4

;-)) yes that he was creeping I noticed ;-)) but I really have no idea which one. it is not the Certhia Brachydactyla since that one is much smaller and does not have black claws.

 

Michael Frankis

conehead

• Jul 13, 2003

• #5

And the palm almost certainly Trachycarpus fortunei (Chinese Palm, the hardiest palm species and the only one that can be grown in northern Europe at all easily)

Michael

 

maxfoto2003

Well-known member

• Jul 13, 2003

• #6

thanks michael, that is what I thought at first but this one is much much bigger and his claws have another color. but it was a pretty big bird and the 'boomkruiper' is smaller than a sparrow if I am not mistaken?

 

maxfoto2003

Well-known member

• Jul 13, 2003

• #7

Location of the bird is Spain, I am sorry, I should have written that too ofcourse ;-( I am still in Spain on holiday

 

Michael Frankis

conehead

• Jul 13, 2003

• #8

Definite Certhia brachydactyla - nothing else in Europe fits that wing pattern. The only other possibility is Certhia familiaris (Taigaboomkruiper) and that is the same size (but has a slightly different wing pattern, and is very rare in the Netherlands)

I would guess that the structure of the palm stem (a somewhat unfamiliar object to Europeans!) made it look bigger than it really is - that sort of illusion can happen quite easily, as so much size judgement is done by comparing the size with familiar objects.

Michael

 

Michael Frankis

conehead

• Jul 13, 2003

• #9

Ah Spain!

Well in that case, it has to be Boomkruiper, as Taigaboomkruiper is impossible there, that is a northern species!

It also means there are several other palms that it could be!

Michael

 

maxfoto2003

Well-known member

• Jul 13, 2003

• #10

thanks michale and I will make sure I add location of the bird next time :-( and about the palm trees.... yes I am surrounded by palm trees these days ;-)

this week I will visit the palm garden in elche. are there any birds that are making their habit on palm trees? anything I need to look for?

 

M

Mark D

BOG member

• Jul 13, 2003

• #11

Hi Max,

Nothing new on the ID as that's been sorted. I just wanted to say EXCELLENT photo

Mark

 

robinm

Registered User

• Jul 13, 2003

• #12

I'd like to second Mark D. Lovely photo of a tricky bird to get (well I never seem to be able to get good shots anyway).

 

Jane Turner

Well-known member

• Apr 25, 2004

• #13

I can never remember which species is which...but I do remember that the thing to look for on creepers is the pale bar in the wing. One species has a continuous line and the other has a discontinuity in it. Its really easy to see on two species which are otherwise confusingly similar. This one has no discontinuity...which makes it a Short-toed!

 

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