Sichuan Treecreeper
Encyclopedia
The Sichuan Treecreeper (Certhia tianquanensis) is a rare species of bird
in the treecreeper
family
, Certhiidae.
It was described as new to science
(initially as a subspecies
of the Common Treecreeper
C. familiaris) in 1995 from 14 specimens taken at four sites in the mountains of western Sichuan
, China
. In 2002, it was realized that these birds constituted a distinct species, and subsequent research suggests it is closest to the Nepal Treecreeper (C. nipalensis).
This species is believed to be a relict species
breeding in open old-growth stands of the conifer Faber's Fir (Abies fabri) at high altitude (2,500-2,830 m), although it is thought to undertake localised altitudinal migrations in the winter (occurring down to at least 1,600 m).
It is known from five sites: Labahe Natural Reserve (Tianquin County), Dayi County
, Shuanghe town (Ebian County), Wawu Shan (Hongya County
), and Wujipung in Wolong Biosphere Reserve. Within this small area, the species is thought to be patchily distributed because it seems to be confined to old stands of the Faber's Fir.
The species forages for invertebrates in the upper storey of large trees by creeping along branches and trunks.
Intensive logging of primary coniferous forests in the last century, even at high altitudes in the mountains of western China, has seriously reduced the potential range of this species. The Wawu Shan table mountain has steep slopes which are inaccessible to lumberjacks in the absence of extensive road construction, but it is not yet formally protected, and there are plans to open up the regions for tourism by building a cable railway.
The population was estimated at less than 1000 adult individuals, occurring over a range of 19,690 km². Formerly classified as Vulnerable species
by the IUCN, new research has shown it to be not as rare as it was believed. Consequently, it is downlisted to Near Threatened
status in 2008.
Bird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
in the treecreeper
Treecreeper
The treecreepers are a family, Certhiidae, of small passerine birds, widespread in wooded regions of the Northern Hemisphere and sub-Saharan Africa. The family contains ten species in two genera, Certhia and Salpornis...
family
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
, Certhiidae.
It was described as new to science
Bird species new to science
This article describes bird species new to science since 1900. Prior to the 20th century, and indeed into its early decades, the pace of discovery of new species was fast; during this period, with numerous collecting expeditions into species-rich areas not previously visited by western...
(initially as a subspecies
Subspecies
Subspecies in biological classification, is either a taxonomic rank subordinate to species, ora taxonomic unit in that rank . A subspecies cannot be recognized in isolation: a species will either be recognized as having no subspecies at all or two or more, never just one...
of the Common Treecreeper
Common Treecreeper
The Eurasian Treecreeper or Common Treecreeper is a small passerine bird also known in the British Isles, where it is the only living member of its genus, simply as Treecreeper. It is similar to other treecreepers, and has a curved bill, patterned brown upperparts, whitish underparts, and long...
C. familiaris) in 1995 from 14 specimens taken at four sites in the mountains of western Sichuan
Sichuan
' , known formerly in the West by its postal map spellings of Szechwan or Szechuan is a province in Southwest China with its capital in Chengdu...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. In 2002, it was realized that these birds constituted a distinct species, and subsequent research suggests it is closest to the Nepal Treecreeper (C. nipalensis).
This species is believed to be a relict species
Relict
A relict is a surviving remnant of a natural phenomenon.* In biology a relict is an organism that at an earlier time was abundant in a large area but now occurs at only one or a few small areas....
breeding in open old-growth stands of the conifer Faber's Fir (Abies fabri) at high altitude (2,500-2,830 m), although it is thought to undertake localised altitudinal migrations in the winter (occurring down to at least 1,600 m).
It is known from five sites: Labahe Natural Reserve (Tianquin County), Dayi County
Dayi County
Dayi County is a county of Sichuan Province, China. It is under the administration of Chengdu city....
, Shuanghe town (Ebian County), Wawu Shan (Hongya County
Hongya County
Hongya County is a county of Sichuan Province, China. It is under the administration of Meishan city....
), and Wujipung in Wolong Biosphere Reserve. Within this small area, the species is thought to be patchily distributed because it seems to be confined to old stands of the Faber's Fir.
The species forages for invertebrates in the upper storey of large trees by creeping along branches and trunks.
Intensive logging of primary coniferous forests in the last century, even at high altitudes in the mountains of western China, has seriously reduced the potential range of this species. The Wawu Shan table mountain has steep slopes which are inaccessible to lumberjacks in the absence of extensive road construction, but it is not yet formally protected, and there are plans to open up the regions for tourism by building a cable railway.
The population was estimated at less than 1000 adult individuals, occurring over a range of 19,690 km². Formerly classified as Vulnerable species
Vulnerable species
On 30 January 2010, the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species identified 9694 Vulnerable species, subspecies and varieties, stocks and sub-populations.-References:...
by the IUCN, new research has shown it to be not as rare as it was believed. Consequently, it is downlisted to Near Threatened
Near Threatened
Near Threatened is a conservation status assigned to species or lower taxa that may be considered threatened with extinction in the near future, although it does not currently qualify for the threatened status...
status in 2008.