The Black and White Warbler could easily be misidentified as a Brown Creeper because even as Peter Rabbit notices, they act similarly. Listen in on Creeper’s tactic for his very un-Warbler, Nuthatch-like behavior:
“I’m going to let you into a little secret, Peter. The rest of them (Warblers) get their living from the leaves and twigs and in the air, but I’ve discovered an easier way. I’ve found out that there are lots of little worms and insects and eggs on the trunks and big limbs of the trees that I can get the best kind of a living there without flitting about everlastingly. I don’t have share them with anybody but the Woodpeckers, Nuthatches, and Tommy Tit the Chickadee.”
Thornton W. Burgess, The Burgess Bird Book for Children, Living Books Press edition, p. 125
Cornell Lab’s allaboutbirds.org adds that Creeper actually has an extra long hind-claw that helps him with this behavior. He uses it to latch and move along the bark of trees. See if you can find it on the Writing Page below which contains the rest of our gathering about Creeper:
You’ll see them foraging for food along the tree trunks, but these birds nest on the ground in the forest.
Check out Lesley the Bird Nerd’s wonderful video about the Black and White Warbler on Youtube!
Until next time, keep birding! <3 Kate
The Living Books Press link above contains an affiliate link, so I may receive a small payment if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
