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==Behaviour== | ==Behaviour== | ||
| − | Shuffles over bare rock, regularly flicking out its wings, showing the crimson colouration. | + | Shuffles over bare rock, regularly flicking out its wings, showing the crimson colouration. Likes ledges, overhangs, 'nooks and craneys' - rarely bare rock. |
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| + | Seen regularly 'bouldering' along stream edges. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Not shy. Immitating the call can be productive. | ||
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==References== | ==References== | ||
#{{Ref-Clements6thDec08}} | #{{Ref-Clements6thDec08}} | ||
Revision as of 12:08, 21 April 2017
- Tichodroma muraria
Identification
Unmistakable, the only small bird in Europe to show a combination of grey, black, red and white plumage, a long thin beak and a habit for crawling over rockfaces. Only males in summer plumage show the black throat, being greyish/buff white in other plumages. In flight, powers forward with deep irregular wingbeats and can appear much larger than it actually is. The shape of the wings and the wing colors makes a comparison of the flying bird to a butterfly obvious.
Distribution
Taxonomy
Subspecies[1]
There are two subspecies:
- T. m. muraria:
- T. m. nepalensis:
Habitat
Nests at high altitudes on cliffs and rockfaces in Eurasian mountain ranges. In winter, many birds, forced by harsh conditions descend to a lower altitude when they can sometimes be encountered in upland villages and towns, using buildings, quarries as a substitute for natural cliffs. Generally, breeding habitat will include a variety of exposures and terrain - overhangs, crevices and caves to facilitate bad weather feeding.
Behaviour
Shuffles over bare rock, regularly flicking out its wings, showing the crimson colouration. Likes ledges, overhangs, 'nooks and craneys' - rarely bare rock.
Seen regularly 'bouldering' along stream edges.
Not shy. Immitating the call can be productive.
References
- Clements, JF. 2008. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2008. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Wallcreeper. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 2 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Wallcreeper
