Hodgson's treecreeper is a small passerine bird from the southern rim of the Himalayas. Its specific distinctness from the common treecreeper was recently validated.
Region
Central and Eastern Himalayas
Typical Environment
Found along the southern rim of the Himalayas from Nepal through Bhutan and northeastern India into southeast Tibet and parts of southwestern China. It inhabits mature montane coniferous and mixed broadleaf-conifer forests with abundant moss and lichen. Typical trees include fir, spruce, hemlock, pine, and rhododendron. The species favors rugged slopes, ravines, and old-growth stands with large trunks for foraging. Local altitudinal movements occur, descending in winter to lower montane zones.
Altitude Range
1500–3800 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Hodgson's treecreeper is a small Himalayan passerine that spirals up trunks, probing bark for tiny invertebrates with its fine, decurved bill. It was long lumped with the Eurasian/Common Treecreeper but is now treated as a distinct species based on vocal and genetic differences. It typically makes short flights to the base of the next tree and uses its stiff tail feathers for support while climbing. Its thin, high-pitched song is a helpful field clue in dense montane forests.
Temperament
quiet and unobtrusive
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats between trees; weak, undulating
Social Behavior
Usually solitary or in pairs, often accompanying mixed-species foraging flocks of tits and nuthatches. Monogamous breeders that nest in cavities or behind loose bark, lining the space with bark strips, moss, and feathers. Clutch typically consists of several speckled eggs, and both parents feed the young.
Migratory Pattern
Partial migrant
Song Description
Thin, high, tinkling phrases that descend slightly, delivered from mid to upper trunks. Calls are sharp, sibilant tseee notes that can carry in quiet mountain forests.
