Bird Quizzes - Tits, Treecreepers and Woodpeckers

Nature Quiz - British Birds - Tits, Treecreepers and Woodpeckers (Questions)

Tits, treecreepers and woodpeckers are woodland favourites with bold patterns and busy behaviour. Learn the clues to spot them, from climbing style to drumming and calls.

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Fascinating Fact:

The Eurasian treecreeper usually works upwards in a spiral, then flies down to the base of another tree to start again.

In Specialist Nature, these birds are ideal for learning behaviour-based identification. Tits often move in lively groups, calling frequently as they search twigs and leaves for insects. Treecreepers blend into bark and feed by creeping up trunks, while woodpeckers use strong bills to probe wood, and they can be noticed by their bouncing flight and drumming, which is a way of communicating rather than just finding food.

Key Terms

Drumming: Rapid tapping on a tree by a woodpecker, used mainly to signal territory or attract a mate.
Camouflage: Colours and patterns that help an animal blend into its surroundings, such as bark-like markings.
Forage: To search for food, often by moving through branches, leaves, or along tree trunks.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

How can I tell a treecreeper from a nuthatch?

A treecreeper is small, brown and streaky, and it usually climbs upwards in short hops while hugging the trunk. A nuthatch is bulkier with a stronger bill, and it can walk both up and down the trunk, often head-first, and it shows a bold dark stripe through the eye.

Why do woodpeckers drum on trees?

Woodpeckers drum to communicate, especially in spring. The sound carries a long way through woodland and helps them claim a territory and attract a mate, so drumming is often more like a message than a feeding method.

What do tits eat in gardens and woodlands?

Tits mainly eat insects, caterpillars and spiders, especially when feeding chicks. In colder months they also take seeds and nuts, and they may visit feeders for fat balls or sunflower hearts, which can help them through winter.