Certhia familiaris
This is a small bird, with a long, slender down-curved bill. The back plumage is cream and speckled brown, and underneath it is mainly white. It has a distinctive whitish eye stripe, and large slender feet. Length 12.5cm.
It feeds off invertebrates it finds in tree bark and on branches. It has strong toes and sharp claws which it can use to grip all surfaces of a tree.
They nest behind loose bark or well established ivy stems, and lay 5 or 6 eggs in 1 brood from April to June. They can live for up to 3 years.
Seen all year round, and is a resident breeding bird. Found in deciduous or coniferous woodland where it lives in trees. Common and widespread throughout.
Photographs taken March 2012, local wood, Staffordshire.
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