Birds Guide

The Philippine creepers (Rhabdornithidae) are a family of small passerine birds. The family is endemic to the Philippines. The family contains a single genus Rhabdornis with three species. They do not migrate other than local movements.

The placement of genus Rhabdornis in a family of its own is not accepted by all authorities, and is sometimes placed in Certhiidae or Timaliidae.

The Philippine creepers are similar in appearance to treecreepers. They have thin pointed down-curved bills, which they can use to extricate insects from bark, but they have brush-like tongues, which enable them to also feed on nectar.

Their behaviour is said to resemble that of tits more than the treecreepers, to which they are not related.

Nests are tree crevices.

The list of species follows below.

• Stripe-headed Creeper Rhabdornis mysticalis
  Long-billed Creeper Rhabdornis grandis
  Plain-headed Creeper Rhabdornis inornatus

There are two other small bird families with 'treecreeper' or 'creeper' in their name. See also Australian treecreepers, and treecreepers.