Camouflaged CreeperA good look at the usually well-camouflaged brown creeper. (Photo David A. Murray)

Most wild animals and birds are potentially a meal for other wild animals or birds. They live in constant jeopardy. As all wildlife evolves, many different defense mechanisms, as well as other means of diminishing the possibility of danger, develop.

Of course, the skills and techniques used by predators also continue to evolve. However, one of the best ways for any animal or bird to avoid becoming a meal for a predator is to become "invisible." The method in which critters become "invisible" is by way of camouflage.

Camouflage comes in many forms; in Webster's dictionary, there are two definitions of the word camouflage that apply to most critters, "…concealment by means of disguise" and "behavior or an expedient designed to deceive or hide." These definitions mean that a critter will disguise itself by being in a habitat that is similar, and therefore, will be less noticeable, or exhibit a behavior or develop a way that it becomes the camouflage. The brown creeper has mastered both of these techniques!

In North America, the bird family Certhiidae , or creepers, consists of a total of one, the brown creeper. In terms of population, the brown creeper is relatively widespread and reasonably common, although, it is a bird not often seen. The creeper's obscurity is directly attributed to its ability to become camouflaged.

The brown creeper is slender and small, usually between three and five inches in length. It appears even smaller with most of its actual length coming from the long tail.

The feathers of the brown creeper are brown and black streaked, with the breast and underside of the bird creamy-white. While the streaked brown and black plumage perfectly matches deciduous tree bark, the light underside prevents the casting of a shadow.

Let's examine the benefits of a critter not casting a shadow. Many predators are still able to identify potential prey, even when the prey matches the background. The shadow from the lower part of the body creates an outline or shape that is recognizable. When the sunlight shines down on an evenly colored object, the bottom of the object falls into shadow. In many different birds, animals, and fish, this effect is counteracted by the underside of the critter being lighter in color than the back.

This phenomenon, referred to as countershading, is predominant in many fish and mammals. The effect is visible when the critter is viewed from the side, with the sun shining down from up above, its solid appearance becomes that of a flat-toned object. This works very well for the slender brown creeper.

The creeper's habitats are mixed woodlands and deciduous forests. To maintain their camouflaged existence, most of the creepers' feeding takes place on deciduous trees. Their method of searching for insects, the primary food source, is to start at the base of a tree and circle, or spiral, up the tree until it reaches the major branches of the tree, then fly to another tree trunk and repeat the process.

Unlike the nuthatch, the brown creeper never works its way down a tree; it always goes up. If the creeper feels threatened, it will sometimes freeze against the tree bark and rely on its camouflage, or just fly away. As mentioned, these birds are very difficult to observe most of the year. However, during the winter months, with snow on the ground, the chances are greatly increased.

The brown creeper is a difficult bird to observe and consequently to photograph. First, it's difficult to find one and, when you do; they are up one tree and then off to another.

The first thing to do is to look for movement at the base of deciduous trees. Spruce trees work the best, because most of the lower branches are usually dead and broken off. This gives a long distance for the bird to spiral up the tree and increases your odds of seeing one. Once you've found a creeper, rather than chase it from tree to tree, set-up your camera gear and wait. Very often, they will revisit the same tree again.

Locate the side of the tree that offers the nicest light, lower the tripod legs, put on your longest telephoto lens, sit down, and wait. Once the creeper revisits the tree base, you should be pre-focused and ready to go. If you don't get it the first time around, be ready as it spirals around the tree. This gives you another chance as it makes the next round. Keep the shutter speed fast; these little critters are constantly in motion.

During the winter, you might get lucky and have the creeper land on the snow below the base of the tree; this eliminates its camouflage and makes the bird much more visible.

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