Short Toed Treecreeper

Photo: monacoeye • Cannes • September 2009

Bird name: Short Toed Treecreeper
Latin: Certhia brachydactyla
Other: Grimpereau des jardins
Family: Certhiidae • Treecreepers

The Short Toed Treecreeper is a great bird. It scurries around along tree trunks, using that needle-sharp beak of its to weedle out small insects from under the bark.

I noticed this one the other day near Cannes and I saw another last January in Hyères, which leads me to suspect they like to spend their winters down on the Cote d'Azur.

It also has a very distinctive song which is crystal clear and cuts through most other sounds.

I've identified this one by the small white line contouring the outer part of the longest feather of the alula (a small set of feathers in the shoulder region) - one of the better distinguishing features.