TICHODROMA.
Habits of "Certhia" but frequenting rocks instead of trees ; tail soft, feathers not pointed; bill longer; claws powerful for rock climbing; nest in rock crevice ; eggs white, finely freckled with dark red at larger end.
Tichodroma muraria (L.). WALL CREEPER. Fr. Grim percau de muraille ; Ger. Mauerlaufer ; Az/. Picchio inuraiolo. Above slate grey (paler in winter), lesser and middle wing coverts and outer margins of primaries crimson ; a white spot on inner web of primaries near the tip ; beneath sooty grey, cheeks, throat and chest black (in winter throat and chest white). Bill, legs and feet black. Wing d 93-11o, Y
Tarsus 2o-24. Bill d 23-30, 5) 23-28 (W.).
Breeds.—Alps and mountains of C. and S. Europe, Spain to Balkans, Carpathians, Caucasus and into Asia; occasionally strays from breeding places, e.g. to Baltic Provinces, Britain, Belgium, Sardinia, Malta, etc.