By Paul Noeldner
Friends of Urban Nature
Our Birds of the Month for October and November are two cute but often overlooked little brown birds, the Brown Creeper and the American Tree Sparrow. Both are friendly and easy to see, even without binoculars, but only if you know where to look.
The Brown Creeper is perfectly described by its name. They are fairly common year-round residents, including in winter, but often go unseen. Slightly smaller than a sparrow, Brown Creepers have a mottled brownish grey back and head that blend in perfectly with tree bark. This natural camouflage makes them almost invisible as they slowly creep up and around the trunks of big trees, making them hard to see even when right in front of you.
They probe for hidden insects under the bark using their tiny curved beaks, which helps keep our trees healthy. Brown Creepers prefer mature older trees. They generally only climb up, not down, using their stiff tail feathers as a brace. Your best chance to see a Brown Creeper is when they fly back down to land near the bottom of another big tree trunk and start circling up again.
You can also listen for their high-pitched tinkling “tsee” calls. When you are outdoors in an area with several large old trees, stand still for a moment and watch for a piece of bark that moves.
American Tree Sparrows are small brown birds with grey bellies, a jaunty rust-colored cap, and a black spot on their chest. Tree Sparrows are unfortunately not perfectly described by their name. They perch in small flocks in trees, but are most commonly seen in low branches, bushes and tall grasses, feeding on seeds near the ground. Very hardy little birds, they stay in Wisconsin through the coldest winters.
Look for Tree Sparrows fluttering low in bushes and grasses along the path when you take a walk in a park or natural area. Listen for their happy musical “tweedle dee dee” chirps.
Both Brown Creepers and American Tree Sparrows are essential parts of a healthy urban ecosystem by helping control insect populations and eating large amounts of common weed seeds. And they are great at helping brighten a cold fall or winter day. Enjoy the health benefits and magical beauty of nearby nature all year round wherever you live.
