Other Scientific Names
Climacteris melanura [Christidis and Boles (2008)], Climacteris melanura [Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993)], Climacteris melanura [BirdLife International (2004)]
Other Names (World)
Black-tailed Treecreeper, Allied Treecreeper (wellsi), Chestnut-bellied Treecreeper
Habitat
Open eucalypt forests and woodlands, typically dominated by eucalypts, with a grassy understorey, and with and without a sparse to moderately dense shrub layer.
Tropical northern Australia. Two separate populations, one from the Kimberley east to about Mt. Isa, Qld, and the other between the de Grey and Gascoyne Rivers, central coastal WA.
Rarity Status
Currently this species is not classified as a rarity in this country OR information has not been updated.
Population
Estimated population is unknown (2010).
Black-tailed Treecreeper (Climacteris melanurus) [XC480949]
by Kakadu Nat Park: Fire Project (via Colin Trainor) from WAH11, Kakadu, West Arnhem Shire, Northern Territory, Australia (call, song)
Black-tailed Treecreeper (Climacteris melanurus) [XC184091]
by John Graff from Gt Northern Hwy, Western Australia, Australia (call)
Breeding Season (Guide)
March - May and September - November.
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Nest
In a hollow of a tree, composed of soft bark, fur and dry grasses.
Eggs (Guide)
2 - 3; flesh-white, almost obscured with red-brown abd purple-red spots and blotches; oval; about 24 x 18 mm. Incubation; probably by female.
Subspecies wellsi has previously been treated as a separate species.
The following 2 subspecies are recognised:
melanurus Gould, 1843 - North-western Australia from the Kimberley Divide, east to south-eastern Gulf of carpentaria, and south inland to the eucalypt - acacia transition zone.
wellsi Ogilvie-Grant, 1909 - Pilbara Divide, WA.
Similar Species
In brief views and possiblly only on hearing calls with Brown Treecreeper (Climacteris picumnus).
Compare Images
The Field Guide to the Birds of Australia Pizzey, G., and Knight, E., 1997, Angus & Robertson, Sydney ISBN 0 207 19691 5
Field Guide to Australian Birds Morecombe, M., 2000, Steve Parish Publishing Pty Ltd. ISBN 1 876282 10 X
Field Guide to the Birds of Australia Simpson, K., and Day, N., 1999, 6th Edition, Viking ISBN 0 670 87918 5
Reader's Digest Complete Book of Australian Birds 1988, 2nd Edition, Reader's Digest ISBN 0 949819 99 9
What Bird is That? 1984, Revised Edition, Angus & Robertson, Sydney ISBN 0 207 14846 5
Handbook of Australian, New Zealand & Antarctic Birds 1990 - , Oxford University Press, Melbourne ISBN 0 19 553244 9
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BirdLife International Species Factsheet