{{Short description|Species of bird}} {{speciesbox | name = Rufous treecreeper | image = Climacteridae - Climacteris rufa.jpg | status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 11 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=BirdLife International |date=2020 |title=''Climacteris rufus'' |volume=2020 |article-number=e.T22703591A176210338 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T22703591A176210338.en |access-date=11 November 2021}}</ref> | genus = Climacteris | species = rufus | authority = Gould, 1841 | synonyms = }}
The '''rufous treecreeper''' ('''''Climacteris rufus''''') is a species of bird in the family Climacteridae. It is endemic to Australia.
== Description == The rufous treecreeper measures between 15–17cm<ref name=" ab ">{{cite book |last1=Slater |first1=Peter |last2=Slater |first2=Pat |last3=Slater |first3=Raoul |title=The Slater Field Guide to Australian Birds (Revised Edition)|pages=270|year=1995 |isbn=0-947116-99-0 |publisher=Lansdowne |location=Sydney, Australia}}</ref> from bill to tail and weighs 27-37 grams, with a wingspan of approximately 16-18cm.<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Australian Bird Guide (Revised Edition)|last1=Menkhorst |first1=P. |last2=Rogers |first2=D. |last3=Clarke |first3=R. |last4=Davies |first4=J. |last5=Marsack |first5=P. |last6=Franklin |first6=K.|publisher=CSIRO Publications|isbn=978-1-4863-1193-4|pages=422|year=2019|location=Victoria}}</ref> It is gray with a rufous face and breast and brown back.<ref>Michael Morcombe, ''Field Guide to Australian birds'', Steve Parish Publishing, 2004</ref> The male has dark streaks on his breast while the female has pale streaks.
== Diet == It forages on the trunks and branches of Eucalyptus trees for insects.<ref>[http://birdlife.org.au/bird-profile/rufous-treecreeper Rufous-treecreeper | Birdlife Australia]</ref>
== Breeding == They nest in tree hollows, laying a clutch of 1-3 spotted white eggs, measuring 24 x 19 mm. Nests are made from grass, bark, plants, and feathers.<ref name=" ab " /> They are cooperative breeders, with all able family members helping to feed and raise the young. Breeding typically takes place during the spring.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Gary |first1=Luck |title=The demography and cooperative breeding behaviour of the rufous treecreeper, Climacteris rufa |journal=Australian Journal of Zoology |date=December 2001 |volume=49 |issue=5 |doi=10.1071/ZO00087 |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/251875942_The_demography_and_cooperative_breeding_behaviour_of_the_rufous_treecreeper_Climacteris_rufa |access-date=31 January 2026 |publisher=CSIRO Publishing}}</ref>
== Distribution and habitat == The rufous treecreeper is found across Southwestern Australia, as far north as Shark Bay, and through to South Australia, as far east as the Eyre Peninsula. The population is heavily concentrated towards the wheatbelt and the south-west corner of WA in and around Perth, becoming more dispersed further east and inland.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Noske|first1=R.|last2=Sharp|first2= C.J.|date=2020 |url=https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/ruftre3/cur/introduction|title=Rufous Treecreeper ( Climacteris rufus), version 1.0. In Birds of the World|journal=Birds of the World|doi=10.2173/bow.ruftre3.01|url-access=subscription }}</ref> Open eucalypt forest and woodland are its preferred habitat.<ref name=" ab " />
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/resources/grzimek_birds/Climacteridae/Climacteris_rufa.jpg/view.html Image at ADW] *[http://birdlife.org.au/bird-profile/rufous-treecreeper]
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rufous treecreeper Category:Birds of South Australia Category:Birds of Western Australia Category:Endemic birds of Australia rufous treecreeper Category:Taxonomy articles created by Polbot
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