Description:

Unmistakable in all plumages, but small in size; long, thin and slightly decurved bill. Largely crimson wing-coverts and bases to black flight feathers, with two rows of white spots across primaries. Male has black throat and upper breast. Female has whitish chin, and variable blackish patch on lower throat and upper breast.

Distribution:

Common but widespread resident all across Gilgit-Baltistan, wintering in lowers valleys. Prefers varied rocky regions, typically including steep, rugged cliffs and boulder-strewn slopes up to 4000m; also ruins and stony river beds in winter.

Behavior:

Progresses mainly with short, jerky hops, sometimes with sidling, creeping and walking; on vertical surfaces sometimes makes upward leap accompanied by single rapid wingbeat. Takes prey from surface of rocks or among vegetation on ledges. Diet mainly small and some larger insects, including adults, larvae and eggs, also spiders and some other invertebrates.

Photo Gallery:

Range & Occurrence:

Resident Species

Summer Breeder

Winter Visitor

Passage Migrant

Distribution Map of Wallcreeper in Gilgit-Baltistan (Status: )

Seasonal Occurrence of Wallcreeper

Resources:

Birds of Pakistan: Helm Field Guides (R. Grimmett & T. Inskipp)
The Birds of Pakistan (T. J. Roberts)
Birds of the Indian Subcontinent (C. Inskipp, R. Grimmett & T. Inskipp)
Birds of South Asia: The Ripley Guide (P. Rasmussen & J. Anderton)
Birds of India: Collins Field Guide (N. Arlott)
Handbook of the Birds of India and Pakistan (S. Ali & S. D. Ripley)
Handbook of the Birds of the World (https://www.hbw.com)
The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World, 6th Edition
iNaturalist BoGB (inaturalist.org/projects/birds-of-gilgit-baltistan)
Birds of Gilgit-Baltistan (http://fb.me/birdsgb)

*Gallery images on this page are shared from flickr.com, and are copyrighted to their respective creators or owners.