Hodgson's Treecreeper (Certhia hodgsoni) [XC183030]
by Mike Nelson from Below Long Lake, Jiuzhaigou National Park, Sichuan, China (call, song)
Hodgson's Treecreeper (Certhia hodgsoni) [XC547716]
by Andrew Spencer from Lidder Valley, left bank upstream from Lidderwat, Jammu and Kashmir, India (song)
Subspecies
Certhia familiaris (Sibley and Monroe 1990, 1993) has been split into Eurasian Treecreeper (Certhia familiaris) and Hodgson's Treecreeper (Certhia hodgsoni) following Tietze et al.(2006).
Formerly treated as conspecific with Eurasian Treecreeper (Certhia familiaris), but differs genetically and vocally. Geographical variation marked: nominate subspecies and mandellii, as well as differing morphologically, exhibit significant genetic differences and their ranges abut in Himalayas of northern India with no evidence of intergradation. They may each merit species status. Subspecies mandellii and khamensis are much more similar. Birds from the Kwanhsien region of Sichuan (China) having dull grey underparts described as subspecies kwanhsienensis, which possibly worthy of recognition.
The following 3 subspecies are recognised:
hodgsoni W. E. Brooks, 1873 - Western Himalayas in Pakistan (Hazara, Indus Kohistan and Gilgit), Kashmir and north-western India (east to Lahul, in Himachal Pradesh).
mandellii Brooks, WE, 1874 - Central Himalayas of northern India from Himachal Pradesh (eastern from Kulu) east, including Nepal and Bhutan, to extreme western Arunachal Pradesh (Tawang).
khamensis Bianchi, 1903 - Southern China from southern Gansu (southern flanks of Qin Ling) south to southern and south-eastern Xizang, western Sichuan and Yunnan (Lijiang range and Nu Shan), and presumably north-eastern India (in Pachakshiri region of Arunachal Pradesh); one Jun record from north-eastern Myanmar (Adung valley).
BirdLife International Species Factsheet