BROWN CREEPER

Certhia americana americana; C. a. montana

Status: Locally rare regular resident east and northwest, rare casual north-central. Uncommon regular spring and fall migrant and winter visitor statewide.

Documentation: americana: specimen UNSM ZM6569, 25 Mar 1896 Lancaster Co; montanus: specimen UNSM ZM6570, 17 Feb 1896 Sioux Co.

Taxonomy: There are 12-15 subspecies recognized, all but three occurring north of Mexico (Poulin et al 2020, Pyle 1997, Gill et al 2022). Of the northern subspecies, most have restricted ranges in the western US, but these three may occur in Nebraska: alascensis, breeding in south-central Alaska and wintering from Arizona to northwest Arkansas, montana, breeding from west-central British Columbia east to Alberta and south to southern Arizona and west Texas and wintering from California to Louisiana, and americana, breeding from northern Saskatchewan east to Newfoundland and south to Minnesota and West Virginia and wintering from California to Florida.

Subspecies montana is presumably the resident (see Winter) subspecies breeding on the Nebraska Pine Ridge (Poulin et al 2020); a specimen collected in Sioux County 12 Feb 1896 was assigned to montana (Bruner et al 1904). However, the identity of South Dakota Black Hills birds has been questioned, casting some doubt on the identity of Nebraska Pine Ridge breeders; recordings at four locations in the Black Hills in May and early Jul by Tonnessen (eBird.org) were assigned by the observer to americana: “Recorded songs which match americana much better than montana; have recorded these before in the Black Hills. All Black Hills birds I have recorded so far have sounded consistent and much closer to americana than any other ssp.” and “IDed by song; very different from Rocky Mt birds, closer to birds I’ve heard in New England before.” It is possible these birds were intergrades between montana and americana.

Brown Creepers breeding elsewhere in Nebraska, specifically the eastern Niobrara River Valley and the Missouri River Valley, are probably americana (Bruner et al 1904, AOU 1957).

There is no evidence that alascensis has occurred in Nebraska.

Spring: winter <<<>>> Apr 29, 30, 30

Later dates are 2 May 2011 Lancaster Co, 4 May 1996 Schramm SP, Sarpy Co, 4 May 2024 Lancaster Co, 2-7 May 2021 Walnut Grove Park, Douglas Co, 10 May 1997 Schramm SP, 10 May 2021 Lincoln, Lancaster Co, 22 May 2006 Lancaster Co, 22 May 2021 Lake Minatare, Scotts Bluff Co, and 5 Jul 2012 Lincoln Co.

Departure of wintering birds and migrants takes place by the end of Apr. There are several records mid-May through early Jul away from known breeding locations that are puzzling; although they might suggest local breeding attempts it seems more likely they are dispersing non-breeders (see Fall).

• High counts: 10 at Fontenelle Forest, Sarpy Co 20 Apr 2018, 9 at Wilderness Park, Lincoln, Lancaster Co 10 Mar 2001, 8 at Fontenelle Forest 13 Apr 2019, and 6 at Zorinsky Lake, Omaha 13 Apr 2018.

Resident: This species is generally resident wherever it breeds except for birds at the northern edge of the breeding range in Canada, which move south in winter (Poulin et al 2020).

Brown Creeper breeds in disjunct locations in Nebraska; based on the low frequency of sightings, breeding numbers are probably minimal. Swenk (1919) described it only as a “winter resident” in the state. Breeding has been confirmed in only four areas, Dawes Co on the Pine Ridge, Brown Co and Smith Falls SP, Cherry Co in the Niobrara River Valley, and Sarpy and Washington Cos near the Missouri River; most records are from Sarpy Co, where there have also been several additional summer reports without evidence of breeding.

Rosche (1982) stated that Brown Creeper probably bred on the Pine Ridge, although breeding has only recently been confirmed there. Mollhoff (2004) found a nest with week-old young in West Ash Canyon, Dawes Co 1 Jun 2002, and believed that “they may breed more frequently than suspected in this area”. Additional records in West Ash Canyon are 21 May 2000 and a pair there 14 Jun 2006. A pair was in East Ash Creek Canyon, Dawes Co 16 Jun 2019 and a single 13 Jun 2024. There are reports from Sowbelly Canyon, Sioux Co 12 Jul 2001 and 29 Jul 2012 and several reports from Chadron SP and nearby Chadron Creek WMA in Dawes Co; the Chadron SP checklist lists it as “Rare”. Reports there are: 2 Jun 2021 (two), 14 Jun 1998, 18 Jun 2003, 29 Jul 2012, 6 Sep 2009, 8 Sep 2016, and 19 Sep 2011. One was at Cliffs Trailhead, Dawes Co 21 Aug 2021. Reports in late Sep may be of early fall migrants, however (see Fall). 

The only other Panhandle report is 9-15 May 1984 Scotts Bluff Co. In Perkins Co there is a 29 May 1972 report, and there are Lincoln Co reports 23 May 1983 and 26 Jun 1976.

In the Niobrara River Valley, there are two breeding records. An adult was carrying food to a nest in a rotten ponderosa pine with a male singing nearby (Brogie and Mossman 1983, Mossman and Brogie 1983). The location was on the Niobrara River floodplain in Brown Co in mixed woodland; two nestlings were present 9 Jul 1983 (Mossman and Brogie 1983). A nest at Smith Falls SP, Cherry Co was found 25 May 2022, and monitored through fledging, which occurred on or about 20 Jun (Gordon Warrick, personal communication; photo). Two were at Smith Falls SP 7 Jun 2021 and one at nearby Fort Falls 14 Jul 2021, and one was at Andrson Bridge WMA, Cherry Co 4 Jun 2024.

The only summer reports further west and east of the Pine Ridge are in Cherry Co. Singles were along Bush Road along the Niobrara River southwest of Valentine, Cherry Co 16 May 2015 and nearby Steer Creek Campground 5 Jun 2011 and 19 Jun 2014. A “pair in suitable habitat” was at Anderson Bridge WMA 6 May 2023. One near Long Pine, Brown Co 8 May 2020 may have been a migrant or Niobrara River Valley breeder.

The history of breeding in Sarpy Co is recent, beginning in 1974; the maximum number of nesting pairs reported since then is two. All Sarpy Co records are from Fontenelle Forest; Cortelyou (1975) stated that a female with a brood patch had been banded 16 Jul 1974, and that birds had been seen carrying food in 1974 and 1975. In 1975 birds were seen carrying sticks to a nest site, and on 26 May two birds were flushed from under loose bark on a dead tree, presumed to be an elm (Cortelyou 1975). The nest was about six feet from the ground and contained two nestlings. The few documented reports of nesting are as follows. A pair was carrying food at Fontenelle Forest 20 May 2010, and one was singing there 23 May. A family group was seen 28 May 2005. Two nests were found on the north floodplain 7 Apr 2016; nest building was under way there 12 Apr and singles were present 3 May, 14 May, and 18 Jun. A single bird was seen at Fontenelle Forest 15 Jun 2020, and one was there 19 May 2023.

In southeast Washington Co, one was singing at the Krimlofski Tract, Neale Woods, 24 May 1998, nest-building was observed there 20 May 2003, adults were carrying food to a nest site there 28-29 May 2006 (Mollhoff 2006), and two sightings there 23 May and early Jun 2004 separated by about a quarter mile might have indicated the presence of at least two pairs.

There is limited additional evidence for breeding in the Missouri and Platte River Valleys. Ducey (1988) cited breeding prior to 1920 in Dakota Co, and there is a recent report from there for 14 May 1984, a late date for a migrant. There are reports for Cass Co 12 May 1966, 18 May 1995 (at Schramm SP), 6 Jun 1997, and 30 Jun 1967. “Probable” breeding occurred in northern Saunders Co 2009-2014 (Mollhoff 2016) and there are two “probable” breeding reports from northern Gage Co 1984-89 (Mollhoff 2001).

Fall: Sep 11, 12, 13 <<<>>> winter

An earlier date is 9 Sep 2010 Otoe Co.

Early dates are away from known breeding areas, although sightings in late Jul and Aug may be of dispersing young birds; family groups disband as early as mid-Jul, before arrival in wintering areas by Oct, when only single or paired birds occur (Poulin et al 2020). One seen 13 Aug and 26 Aug 2005 at Alma, Harlan Co was almost certainly an early migrant. In general, migrants and wintering birds arrive in late Sep, with peak movement probably in Oct and early Nov.

In recent years, this species has been reported more often in fall and winter than formerly.

• High counts: 12 at Arbor Day Farm, Otoe Co 28 Oct 2003, 10 at Cottonmill Park, Kearney, Buffalo Co 20 Nov 2015, 8 in Gage Co 1 Nov 2015, and 8 at Ponca SP, Dixon Co 25 Oct 2023.

Winter: Brown Creepers generally winter within their breeding range, except for northern or high-altitude breeding birds, although the “center of gravity of the population shifts southward in winter” (Harrap and Quinn 1995). This shift causes an influx into Nebraska, when numbers are much higher than in summer. Winter reports are statewide, with fewest reports in the relatively treeless Sandhills. The high CBC count is 43 at Lincoln, Lancaster Co 18 Dec 2010, but CBC reports are few and scattered elsewhere.

At least one example of social roosting in winter has been observed, that of about a dozen individuals clumped beneath an eave in “mid-winter” during the 1960s near Wisner, Cuming Co (Roger Sharpe, personal communication).

• High counts: 16 at Fontenelle Forest, Sarpy Co 1 Dec 2020, 10 at Towl Park, Omaha 31 Dec 2016, and 8 at Fontenelle Forest 17 Dec 2023.

Images

Abbreviations

CBC: Christmas Bird Count
SP: State Park
UNSM: University of Nebraska State Museum
WMA: Wildlife Management Area (State)

Literature Cited

American Ornithologists’ Union [AOU]. 1957. The AOU Check-list of North American birds, 5th ed. Port City Press, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.

Brogie, M.A., and M.J. Mossman. 1983. Spring and summer birds of the Niobrara Valley Preserve, Nebraska: An annotated checklist. NBR 51: 44-51.

Bruner, L., R.H. Wolcott, and M.H. Swenk. 1904. A preliminary review of the birds of Nebraska, with synopses. Klopp and Bartlett, Omaha, Nebraska, USA.

Cortelyou, R.G. 1975. A Brown Creeper’s nest in Nebraska. NBR 43: 80-83.

Ducey, J.E. 1988. Nebraska birds, breeding status and distribution. Simmons-Boardman Books, Omaha, Nebraska, USA.

Gill, F., D. Donsker, and P. Rasmussen (Eds). 2022. IOC World Bird List (v 12.2). Doi 10.14344/IOC.ML.12.2.  http://www.worldbirdnames.org/.

Harrap, S., and D. Quinn. 1995. Chickadees, tits, nuthatches and treecreepers. Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey, USA.

Mollhoff, W.J. 2001. The Nebraska Breeding Bird Atlas 1984-1989. Nebraska Ornithologists’ Union Occasional Papers No. 7. Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA.

Mollhoff, W.J. 2004. The 2002 Nebraska Nesting Report. NBR 72: 153-158.

Mollhoff, W.J. 2006. The 2006 Nebraska nest report. NBR 74: 142-147.

Mollhoff, W.J. 2016. The Second Nebraska Breeding Bird Atlas. Bull. Univ. Nebraska State Museum Vol 29. University of Nebraska State Museum, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA.

Mossman, M.J., and M.A. Brogie. 1983. Breeding status of selected bird species in the Niobrara Valley Preserve Area, Nebraska. NBR 51: 52-62.

Poulin, J., É. D’Astous, M. Villard, S.J. Hejl, K.R. Newlon, M.E. McFadzen, J.S. Young, and C.K. Ghalambor. 2020. Brown Creeper (Certhia americana), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (A. F. Poole, Editor). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.brncre.01.

Pyle, P. 1997. Identification Guide to North American Birds. Part I, Columbidae to Ploceidae. Slate Creek Press, Bolinas, California, USA.

Rosche, R.C. 1982. Birds of northwestern Nebraska and southwestern South Dakota, an annotated checklist. Cottonwood Press, Crawford, Nebraska, USA.

Swenk, M.H. 1919. The Birds and Mammals of Nebraska. Contributions of the Department of Entomology No. 23. Lincoln, Nebraska.

Recommended Citation

Silcock, W.R., and J.G. Jorgensen. 2024. Brown Creeper (Certhia americana). In Birds of Nebraska — Online. www.BirdsofNebraska.org

Birds of Nebraska – Online

Updated 16 Aug 2024, map updated 8 Mar 2023