Brown Treecreeper (Climacteris picumnus victoriae)
Photo: Tobias Hiyashi
Description
- The Brown Treecreeper is the largest species treecreeper in Australia, growing 160-180 mm long.
- It’s mostly pale brown with grey and white steaks on its chest and belly.
- It has a grey head with a short buff eyebrow and a slight dark line through the eye.
The birds usually stay in one place, living in permanent habitats in pairs or in family groups. They breed cooperatively, with a breeding pair or with a few helper males.
Find out more about the Brown Treecreeper on Canberra NatureMapr.
Where to find them
They live in isolated family groups in the ACT region in dry eucalypt woodlands and open forest below 1,000m. They've been spotted in:
- the north at Percival Hill, Mulligans Flat and Goorooyarroo
- central ACT at Majura, Mount Ainslie, Gossan Hill, Kama, Jerrabomberra Grassland, and Jerrabomberra
- the south at Namadgi National Park, Gigerline, Old Naas Travelling Stock Route, Booth and Tennent.
They build nests in a hollow limb or trunk with grass and bark, lined with fur and feathers. They search for food on the ground, or in tree trunks eating different types of invertebrates.
Conservation threats
The biggest threat to the Brown Treecreeper is changes to its habitat. Other threats include:
- removal of trees, fallen timber and litter
- falling prey to uncontrolled domestic or feral animals
- habitat invasion by pasture and weed
- inappropriate fire regimes
- overgrazing by uncontrolled livestock
- aggressive exclusion from habitat by Common Mynas
- rural tree dieback.
Fallen leaves and branches are essential habitats for wildlife like the Brown Treecreeper. Help protect them by leaving vegetation where you find it in our parks and reserves.
Conservation status
- National – Vulnerable (Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999).
- Australian Capital Territory – Vulnerable (Nature Conservation Act 2014).
Conservation actions
The main conservation aim for the Brown Treecreeper is to protect its habitat. This includes to:
- identify potential habitats that the species could live in
- protect and manage current habitat
- manage nearby woodland so that the species can expand beyond their current range
- limit live and dead timber removal
- prevent intensive grazing
- reduce the adverse effects of fire
- monitor the species' trends and status
- research their ecology and conservation requirements
- educate and work with the community to raise awareness.