Northern Treecreeper
Certhia familiaris familiaris Linnaeus, 1758 (11, 0)
Photo © By Martin Mecnarowski (http://www.photomecan.eu/) - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=12686256
Sub-species
STATUS
Fennoscandia, eastern Hungary, Poland, Greece and the Balkans, eastwards to western Siberia and northern Ukraine.
OVERVIEW
BOU (1971) state that of seven recorded in Shetland and at Fair Isle (September to December, one April), four were of nominate familiaris, while the other three probably belonged to this race. It has also been recorded in the Outer Hebrides (Oct., 1949), Berwick (Sept., 1899), Suffolk (Mar., 1941) and Lincolnshire (March 1947).
This collection of records are awaiting formal ratification by BOURC and BBRC.
RECORDS
1). 1859 Shetland Halligarth, Unst, killed by cat, September.
(Saxby, 1874; Witherby et al., 1940-52; Pennington et al., 2004).
History Saxby (1874) says: 'In September 1859, during a gale from the south-east, I had the pleasure of observing a single example of this favourite little bird in the garden at Halligarth, to all appearance perfectly happy and at ease among the sycamores. Very soon afterwards it was brought into the house by a hateful cat, to which it of course fell an easy victim in such an unfavourable situation, the trees being at that time so much smaller than they are at present. The Creeper very rarely occurs in Orkney.'
Pennington et al. (2004) add that all specimens, and many of the field records were identified as belonging to the northern, nominate race.
2). 1882 Shetland Bressay, obtained, 12th October.
(Evans & Buckley, 1899; Pennington et al., 2004)
History Pennington et al. (2004) add that all specimens, and many of the field records, were identified as belonging to the northern, nominate race.
3). 1884 Orkney No locality, seen, June.
(Buckley & Harvie-Brown, 1891; Witherby et al., 1940-52).
History Buckley & Harvie-Brown (1891) say: 'Mr. T. W. Ranken says: "I have seen this bird in the garden here on two different occasions; the last time in the month of June 1884, the bird passed behind the trunk of a tree within two yards of where I was sitting".'
Witherby (1952, 7th ed.) states that records from the Orkneys probably relate to this form.
4). 1899 Borders Duns, Berwickshire, obtained, September.
(T. Russell Goddard, British Birds 31: 309; Witherby, 1952; Baxter & Rintoul, 1953).
History T. Russell Goddard (1938) in British Birds, Vol. XXXI. p. 309, says: 'During a recent overhaul of the exhibited series of British birds in the Hancock Museum, Newcastle upon Tyne, my assistant, Mr. S. E. Cook, called my attention to a bird which was labelled "Tree Creeper (Certhia familiaris) Duns, Berwickshire, 1899".
As soon as I saw this specimen I realized that it was markedly different from the normal British form (Certhia familiaris britannica). The much paler upper-parts, especially the pale rufous rump, and the pure silvery white under-parts were striking. There is no doubt that this specimen is the Northern Tree-Creeper (Certhia familiaris familiaris). The paler upper-parts cannot be attributed to fading for they are very markedly paler than the same parts of a specimen which was killed in 1832 and which has been on exhibition in the Museum at least from 1884. The most striking difference between this bird and all other specimens of the typical British form in the Museum, apart from the more silvery-white under-parts, was the pale rufous rump.
The Museum Accession Book for 1899 reads: "7th Sept. - A specimen of the Creeper (Certhia familiaris) from Duns, Berwickshire. R. Mitford, Esq., Duns, N.B.".
There is nothing to say whether the bird was received in the flesh or mounted but as various members of the Natural History Society of Northumberland, Durham and Newcastle upon Tyne and their friends were shooting birds in various parts of the north of England and sending them in to the Hancock Museum in the flesh during that year this specimen is extremely likely to have been received in the flesh also. If that is so it was probably killed on September 5th or 6th, 1899, for the specimen is in perfect condition and is beautifully mounted. It was probably set up by J. Jackson, of Newcastle upon Tyne, who was doing most of the taxidermy for the Museum at that time. At any rate the form of the entry in the Museum Accession Book makes it obvious that the bird was obtained at Duns, Berwickshire.'
5). 1906 Fair Isle No locality, male, exhausted, 27th December.
(W. E. Clarke, Annals of Scottish Natural History 1907: 72; Witherby et al., 1940-52; Pennington et al., 2004).
History W. E. Clarke (1907) in the Annals of Scottish Natural History, Vol. XVI, p. 72, says: 'On 27th December a male was found in an exhausted condition and allowed itself to be captured by the hand.
This bird has been compared with the extensive series of Creepers in Mr. Rothschild's collection, and found to belong to the Continental and not to the British race. It must have been blown across the waters of the North Sea by the fierce gales which prevailed just prior to its appearance.
There are two previous records of the occurrence of Creepers in Shetland, namely, one in Unst in 1859, and a male at Bressay on 12th October 1882.
A knowledge of racial forms is of the greatest possible service to those interested in bird migration, for it is of the utmost importance to know whence our bird visitors have come.
This information is to be found in Dr. Hartert's Die Vogel der Palaarktischen Fauna, a most useful book now in the course of publication. It is to be hoped that the author will give us an English version, some day, for the benefit of those who do not read German.'
Pennington et al. (2004) add that all specimens, and many of the field records, were identified as belonging to the northern, nominate race.
6). 1913 Fair Isle No locality, female, 14th April.
(W. E. Clarke, Scottish Naturalist 1914: 54; Witherby et al., 1940-52; Baxter & Rintoul, 1953; Pennington et al., 2004).
History W. E. Clarke (1914) in the Scottish Naturalist, Vol. XXXIV, p. 54, says: 'A female appeared on 14th April. This is the second authentic record of this European and typical racial form of the Creeper in the British Islands. The first, also a Fair Isle example, was captured alive on 27th December 1906.'
Pennington et al. (2004) add that all specimens, and many of the field records, were identified as belonging to the northern, nominate race.
7). 1928 Shetland Lerwick, Mainland, April.
(Pennington et al., 2004).
History Pennington et al. (2004) state that one in Lerwick during April 1928, was reported in the local press.
8). 1937 Shetland Lerwick, Mainland, shot, 6th November.
(Witherby, 1952; Baxter & Rintoul, 1953; Pennington et al., 2004).
History Witherby et al. (1952, 7th ed.) says: 'One Lerwick (Shetland), Nov. 6, 1937 (S. Bruce, examined by H.F.W.).'
Pennington et al. (2004) add that all specimens, and many of the field records, were identified as belonging to the northern, nominate race.
9). 1941 Orkney Kirkwall, Mainland, caught, 10th October.
(Witherby, 1952; Baxter & Rintoul, 1953; Groundwater, 1974).
History Witherby (1952, 7th ed.) states that records from the Orkneys probably relate to this form.
Baxter & Rintoul (1953) state that of the six definite records one was caught in a hothouse at Kirkwall on 10th October 1941.
10). 1947 Lincolnshire North Cotes, male, shot, 13th March.
(J. M. Harrison, British Birds 40: 344; Smith & Cornwallis, 1955; Lorand & Atkin, 1989).
History J. M. Harrison (1947) in British Birds, Vol. XL. p. 344, says: 'On March 13th, 1947, a Treecreeper was obtained at North Cotes, Lincolnshire, two and a half miles from the sea.
I am informed by Mr. J. H. Stubbs that in a life-time in this district, he and his brother, Mr. Foster Stubbs, can only remember seeing the bird on two other occasions, while he informs me further that one other example was seen at the same place in December, 1946. The first which was seen, was obtained, and this belongs to the British race, the date of its capture being January 11th, 1933.
The second referred to above was a sight record and a racial determination was not possible. The third and present example has been matched with topotypes of Certhia f. familiaris from Uppsala, Sweden, for the loan of which I am indebted to Col. R. Meinertzhagen, and agrees perfectly.
It is the second recorded specimen for England, and the sixth for the British Isles.
The bird is a male, and has the following measurements: - wing, 64 mm.; bill, 20 mm..; tarsus, 16 mm.; tail, 53 mm.'
Smith & Cornwallis (1955) state that an example of the Northern race (C. f. familiaris) was obtained in March 1947 at North Cotes.
Lorand & Atkin (1989) add: '...that it was shot by Dr. J. M. Harrison on 13th March 1947.'
11). 1949 Outer Hebrides Rodel, Harris, 29th October.
(Baxter & Rintoul, 1953; BOU, 1971).
History Baxter & Rintoul (1953) state that of the six definite records there was one at Rodel, Harris on 29th October 1949.
WEST CENTRAL EUROPE RACE
1). 1941 Suffolk Martlesham, obtained, 18th March.
(P. A. Clancey, Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 62: 53; Payn, 1978; Piotrowski, 2003).
History P. A. Clancey (1942) in the Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club, Vol. LXII. pp. 53-54, says: 'On March 18, 1941, a very pale example of Certhia familiaris was shot at Martlesham, Woodbridge, Suffolk.
This bird has been compared with an extremely long series from Sweden, Norway, Russia, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland, and, in my opinion, is referable to the central European form, Certhia familiaris macrodactyla. This race of Certhia familiaris has not previously been recorded in Britain.
The bird was obtained during a rush of migrants in mixed deciduous woodland, and was noticeably pale in the field. Birds obtained about the same time are of the dark British race, Certhia familiaris brittanica. Dr. Carmichael Low exhibited the specimen for Mr. Clancey, and also that of the Iceland Redwing, Turdus musicus coburni Sharpe, described in the Bulletin last October (LXII. 1941, p. 18).'
1950-57 INDETERMINATE RECORD
1). 1957 Kent Dungeness, trapped, 10th October.
(E. H. Gillham, Kent Bird Report 1957: 31; Taylor, Davenport & Flegg, 1984).
History E. H. Gillham (1953) in the Kent Bird Report, p. 31, says: 'One trapped at Dungeness on Oct. 10 was either of the Northern (Certhia f. familiaris) or Continental (Certhia f. macrodactyla) forms and was the first record for the observatory (H.E.A.).'
NOT PROVEN
0). 1841 Orkney Near Stromness, Mainland, shot, undated.
(Buckley & Harvie-Brown, 1891; Forrester & Andrews et al., 2007).
[Baxter & Rintoul, 1953].
History Buckley & Harvie-Brown (1891) say: 'Mr. Moodie-Heddle says that one was shot near Stromness in 1841.'
Baxter & Rintoul (1953) state that there are other records that were not scientifically examined and that this is one, dating it as 1844.
0). 1952 Durham South Shields, 19th October.
(Bowey & Newsome, 2012).
[KAN].
History Bowey & Newsome (2012) state that at South Shields on 19th October 1952 that renowned observer Fred Grey saw a "white-looking bird" and it has been assumed to be of the northern race as no Treecreepers bred in the area at that time.
Comment Not specifically identified. Not acceptable.
