Treecreepers are seldom seen away from tree trunks and branches, spending virtually their entire lives pressed to the bark. Their mottled upperparts blend beautifully with the rough surface.
When night falls, they find pieces of loose bark to roost behind.
Since Victorian times, these hyperactive little birds have also learned to take advantage of the spongy bark of giant and coast redwoods planted in Britain’s urban parks and the grounds of stately homes. The fibrous material – a protection against fire in the trees’ native California – is soft enough for the treecreepers to excavate a sleeping hollow that fits them perfectly.
Top image: Giant redwood in Northamptonshire, England. Credit: Paul Hayward/Getty Images
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