European Wallcreeper - Tichodroma muraria muraria

This wonderful bird is included in the Red Book of Bulgaria - a status of Vulnerable species. It is rarely encountered - due to increased touristic traffic and the construction of tourist sites some of the registered habitats have been abandoned. It breeds on rock massifs, sometimes quite high.
I managed to capture this beauty in Greece on a dull cloudy cold day. It was worth the freezing and waiting for more than three hours to appear.

comments (9)

Patomarazul

Lion

Nice birdie! Posted 6 years ago

Barry

Lion

Congrats Jivko - these birds are legendarily difficult to see and I have read articles in the Birdwatching press where people have spent many days trying to see one and failed. Three hours seems like not so much! I myself have never seen one, but it is in my top 5 European birds that I would like to see some day. Posted 6 years ago
1. Jivko Nakev
  
  Lion
  
  Thanks Barry! Yes, 3 hours is not too much. I arrived on the spot about noon, but the rocks are in a deep shadow and about 3 - 3.30 it was no way to make good photos any more. Note the ISO of this photo - 10000! The birds are very busy ones - they move permanently and do not stay calm even for a second. So you definitely need a high speed and long lens. Posted 6 years ago
2. 1. Barry
    
    Lion
    
    Well, it certainly was worth it - this image is fantastic. It is probably the best Wallcreeper picture I have ever seen! Posted 6 years ago

Ferdy Christant

Lion

Spectacular shot and species intro, well done! Posted 6 years ago
1. Jivko Nakev
  
  Lion
  
  Thank you, Ferdy! Posted 6 years ago

Paul Dirksen

Lion

A bird I always wanted and never seen, fabulous shot Jivko. Posted 5 years ago
1. Jivko Nakev
  
  Lion
  
  Thank you, Paul! If you want to come with me to Greece, I am planning a trip to a place, where this bird is nesting. Posted 5 years ago
2. 1. Paul Dirksen
    
    Lion
    
    We ( my birding friend and I) are going to Lesvos may 7 this year, but thank for the offer. Posted 5 years ago

The Wallcreeper

The wallcreeper (Tichodroma muraria) is a small passerine bird found throughout the high mountains of Eurasia from southern Europe to central China. It is the only extant member of both the genus Tichodroma and the family Tichodromidae.

Info 4 1

Similar species: Perching Birds

Species identified by Jivko Nakev