Best time to see: all year

Key facts

A tree-climbing specialist, rather like a feathered mouse

Habitat: woods, parks and even large gardens

Widespread resident, excluding urban areas and coastal marshes

Recognition

Streaked brown above, white below, with a long decurved bill and a pointed tail; 12–13 cm

Spends most of its time in trees, working its way up (and only up) trunks and branches pulling insects out of crevices

Feeds on invertebrates, including insects, spiders, beetles; sometimes seeds

Lifecycle

Nest is made of grass and small roots, lined with feathers or wool, tucked away behind loose bark or in a tree cavity

1 or 2 broods April to June; 6 white eggs, speckled reddish

Vulnerable to hard winters