Treecreeper Germany (1 Viewer)

[McHeath]

Eurasian or Short Toed? Any takers?
(Berlin, Germany, end of July)

Thanks in advance,
Andrew

 

[KenM]

Rear hind claw doesn’t look particularly short to me?

Cheers

 

[Andy Hurley]

It has a quite sullied underside and curved hind claw. The ends of the flight feathers do have white tips, which all point to Short-toed IMVHO. I'm not sure if Berlin counts as Eastern Europe (help me Alexander or Lou), but its getting there, where the subspecies would be familiaris and the belly would of course be white, not brown tinged.

 

[Alexander Stöhr]

Hello Andy,
not much of help from me. Ssp familiaris occurs in "eastern Europe" and has a broad zone of integration according to literature. The only "clearcut" border I found is in the challenging-book by the much missed Martin Garner, where Poland is shown as familiaris-land with the political boarders represents the boarders of distribution.
I have posted some pictures from the polish-german boarder in this thread: Treecreeper ID, Poland

Regarding this bird, I agree with Andy its a quite sure Short-toed imo. But its a hard bird for me, as bill-length is difficult to judge (still seems better for ST than for Eurasian, same with length of the hind-claw, which I find very difficult to judge) and the fine details of the plumage arent easy to judge here. Yes, tips to primaries are white and seems restricted and diamond-shaped

 

[mummymonkey]

It's on an oak tree if that helps in this area?

 

[McHeath]

Thanks to all for your very helpful comments!
It's worth mentioning that I have heard the calls and songs of both species of Treecreepers at this location. Also: Berlin is on or near the (fairly wide and fluctuating) boundaries of several species divided between Eastern and Western Europe (the Treecreepers, also Carrion Crow/Hooded Crow and Nightingale/Thrush Nightingale).