Species:

Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus)

Short-toed Treecreeper (Certhia brachydactyla)

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Length (cm):
11-11
12-12
Wingspan (cm):
17-20
17-20
Weight (gram):
9-12
8-11
Size group:
Warbler-size
Warbler-size
Main Texts:
Appearance:

Diagnostic combination of blue crown, and yellow belly makes it easily recognizable. No white tail-feathers. Sexes similar, but male slightly brighter blue. Juveniles paler than adults, with greenish crown and yellowish cheeks. One of the smallest of the tits.

Sound:

Song: Characteristic, clear, high-pitched, vibrating call. Usually introduced by a couple of accenting syllables, followed by ringing vibrating notes: "ti ti chuhuhuhuhuhuhuhuhuhu". Scolding alarm call: "tee-tee-tee-chirruwitt" similar to Great Tit.

Song:

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See sound file


Distribution:

Wikipedia: map (se also Xeno-canto below)

Ecology:

Birdlife ecology

Links:

Observation.org Latest observations

Video IBC

Image search Flickr NB! May give other species

Sound search at Xeno-canto

Featherbase

CC

Appearance:

Very similar to Treecreeper C. familiaris, and id by sound generally easier than by appearance in areas where both species occur. Primaries with small, almost pure white tips restricted to outer web. Hind-claw shorter than hind-toe. Wing-bar usually with even "steps", but often difficult to determine. Underparts less white and more brownish than in continental C. familiaris (which again is browner than the pure white northern subspecies). Bill longer and with a stronger curved tip.

Sound:

Contact call very similar to C. familiaris. A thin "sreee" often repeated in an even rhythm, perhaps with slighly shorter pauses. Flight call a short and sharp "wit" used freely when moving about. Song diagnostic, and introductory notes often used singly when interacting. Full song starts with one or two staccato introductory notes, the first higher pitched than the second, followed by a rapid, ascending crescendo ending in a drawn-out, less pure "sree". The tone is loud and much more penetrating and clear than C. familiaris. Timbre recalls wet rubber-boots on vinyl flooring. Note that "mixed singers" of C. familiaris are not uncommon in areas where both species of treecreepers occur.

Song:

Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file


Distribution:

Xeno-canto: map

Ecology:

Birdlife ecology

Links:

Observation.org Latest observations

Video IBC

Image search Flickr NB! May give other species

Sound search at Xeno-canto

Featherbase

CC

CC-photo:Agustín Povedano, Licence,Link.

CC-photo:Agustín Povedano, Licence,Link.

CC-photo:Mickaël Dia, Licence,Link.

Similar species (image):
Similar species (sound):
Silhouette Group:
Tit-like
Silhouette
Tree-clinging
Silhouette
Several different images of the species
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Several different sounds of the species
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See sound file
Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file
Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file
Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file
Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file
Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file
Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file