Wikipedia:Featured article candidates/Common Treecreeper

The following is an archived discussion of a featured article nomination. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the article's talk page or in Wikipedia talk:Featured article candidates. No further edits should be made to this page.

The article was promoted by User:SandyGeorgia 00:06, 4 June 2008 [1].

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Common Treecreeper

Self nomination, a bit shorter than usual, but has passed GA. To anticipate possible concerns, (a) this woodland species appears to have no cultural significance anywhere in Europe (b) whilst, like other woodland birds, this species will be taken as prey by species like Sparrowhawk and Tawny Owl (I've even found Treecreeper remains in a Tawny Owl pellet) it's so obvious that nothing I can find specifically refers to Common Treecreeper (c) similarly avian diseases and parasites Jimfbleak (talk) 06:10, 25 May 2008 (UTC)

Issues resolved. — Wackymacs (talk ~ edits) 15:04, 25 May 2008 (UTC)

Oppose - Problems with prose, fails criteria 1a.

• The lead alone shows some poor prose, such as "Also known as Eurasian Treecreeper, or (in the British Isles where it is the only member of its genus) just Treecreeper, it is very similar to other treecreepers, having a curved bill, patterned brown upperparts, whitish underparts, and long stiff tail feathers which help it creep up tree trunks." - This is a very long sentence.
• "All the treecreepers are similar in appearance, being small birds with streaked and spotted brown upperparts, rufous rumps and whitish underparts. They have long decurved bills, and long stiff tail feathers which provide support as they creep up tree trunks looking for insects.[2]" - 'Being' is poor word choice. 'Typically' would probably work better here.
• "The Common Treecreeper is 12.5 centimetres (5 in) long and weighs 7.0–12.9 grams (0.25–0.46 oz) It has warm brown upperparts intricately patterned with black, buff and white, and a plain brown tail." - After (0.25–0.46 oz), you are missing a period (or, full stop).
• These are just a few examples, the article needs an entire copyedit throughout by an editor new to the text.
• Please see User:Tony1/How to satisfy Criterion 1a for addressing prose issues
• See also Wikipedia:WikiProject_League_of_Copyeditors/Members and Wikipedia:Peer_review/volunteers#General_copyediting for lists of copyeditors who can help you.

— Wackymacs (talk ~ edits) 10:24, 25 May 2008 (UTC)

• I've rewritten the introduction to address the concerns there. The other issues have been fixed by GrahamColm and Casliber for which much thanks. "Typically" incidentally is not appropriate, since it implies that there are exceptions.

Support. I disagree, this is an engaging and well-written article. I have made some very minor edits but, apart from which, I found no problems with the prose except: The Common Treecreeper is non-migratory in west and south of its breeding range, however some northern birds move south in winter, and high-altitude breeders may descend to a lower level. - which needs some attention. Some may express concern that the citations are few, so be prepared to defend this. I suggest you double check the copyright status of the original Commons images. Don't assume that they are free simply because they are there. Thanks and well done - a damn good read. GrahamColm^Talk 12:20, 25 May 2008 (UTC)

• thanks for the constructive edits and comment. I've now fixed migration. I have 26 journal articles I could use if necessary, but the content is, unsurprisingly, mostly covered in Harrap's major book on this group. However, if the number, rather than the content, of references becomes an issue, I can just replace some of the Harrap refs with the primary research papers (interestingly, another editor said it's better to use books than the papers where possible). Good idea wrt the images. The originals for the birds are GFDL, the tree is PD, and the ant is "Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 2.5 License", which I think is OK. If not, the image is not essential. Jimfbleak (talk) 12:40, 25 May 2008 (UTC)

Available books and articles if more refs needed, as per above.

Suorsa, P. et al. (2005) Thresholds in selection of breeding habitat by the Eurasian treecreeper (Certhia familiaris). Biological Conservation 121: 443 - 452. Suorsa, P. et al. (2004) Effects of forest patch size on physiological stress and immunocompetence in an area-sensitive passerine, the Eurasian treecreeper (Certhia familiaris): an experiment. Proceedings of the Royal Society - Series B 271: 435 - 440.

Huhta, E. et al. (2004) Forest Fragmentation Increases Nest Predation in the Eurasian Treecreeper. Conservation Biology 18: 148 - 155.

Adamik, P. & Kornan, M. (2004) Foraging ecology of two bark foraging passerine birds in an old-growth temperate forest. Ornis Fennica 81: 13 - 22. Huhta, E. et al. (2003) Habitat-related nest predation effect on the breeding success of the Eurasian treecreeper. Ecoscience 10: 283 - 288. Suorsa, P. et al. (2003) Forest fragmentation is associated with primary brood sex ratio in the treecreeper (Certhia familiaris). Proceedings of the Royal Society - Series B 270: 2215 - 2222. Jantti, A. et al. (2003) Nest defence of Eurasian treecreeper Certhia familiaris against the Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major: only one parent is needed. Ornis Fennica 80: 31 - 37. Enemar, A. (2001) Weights of yolk body and hatchling in relation to the egg weight in the treecreeper Certhia familiaris. Ornis Svecica 11: 147 - 154.

Jantti, A. et al. (2001) Prey depletion by the foraging of the Eurasian treecreeper, Certhia familiaris, on tree-trunk arthropods. Oecologia 128: 488 - 491. Osiejuk, T.S. & Kuczynski, L. (2000) Song functions and territoriality in Eurasian Treecreeper Certhia familiaris and Short-toed Treecreeper Certhia brachydactyla. Acta Ornithologica 35: 109 - 116.

Aho, T. et al. (1999) Reproductive success of Eurasian treecreepers, Certhia familiaris, lower in territories with wood ants. Ecology 80: 998 - 1007. Osiejuk, T.S. (1998) Correlates of creeping speed variability in two species of Treecreepers. Condor 100: 174 - 177.

Enemar, A. (1997) The egg size variation of the treecreeper Certhia familiaris in south-western Sweden. Ornis Svecica 7: 107 - 120.

Aho, T. et al. (1997) Behavioural responses of Eurasian treecreepers, Certhia familiaris, to competition with ants. Animal Behaviour 54: 1283 - 1290. Gil, D. (1997) Increased response of the short-toed treecreeper Certhia brachydactyla in sympatry to the playback of the song of the common treecreeper C. familiaris. Ethology 103: 632 - 641. Aho, T. et al. (1997) Effects of male removal on female foraging behavior in the Eurasian treecreeper. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 41: 49 - 53. Kuitunen, M. et al. (1996) Food availability and the male's role in parental care in double-brooded Treecreepers Certhia familiaris. Ibis 138: 638 - 643. Peach, W., Du Feu, C. & McMeeking, J. (1995) Site tenacity and survival rates of wrens Troglodytes troglodytes and treecreepers Certhia familiaris in a Nottinghamshire wood. Ibis 137: 497 - 507. Enemar, A. (1995) Incubation, hatching, and clutch desertion of the treecreeper Certhia familiaris in south-western Sweden. Ornis Svecica 5: 111 - 124.

Arevalo, J.E. & Gosler, A.G. (1994) The behaviour of treecreepers Certhia familiaris in mixed-species flocks in winter. Bird Study 41: 1 - 6. Kuitunen, M. & Aleknonis, A. (1992) Nest predation and breeding success in common treecreepers nesting in boxes and natural cavities. Ornis Fennica 69: 7 - 12.

Enemar, A. (1992) Laying and clutch size of the treecreeper Certhia familiaris in south-western Sweden. Ornis Svecica 2: 93 - 102.

Suhonen, J. & Kuitunen, M. (1991) Intersexual foraging niche differentiation within the breeding pair in the common treecreeper Certhia familiaris. Ornis Scandinavica 22: 313 - 318.

Hogstad, O. (1990) Winter territoriality and the advantages of social foraging in the treecreeper Certhia familiaris. Cinclus 13: 57 - 64.

Kuitunen, M. (1989) Food supply and reproduction in the common treecreeper (Certhia familiaris). Annales Zoologici Fennici 26: 25 - 33. Norberg, R.A. (1986) Treecreeper climbing: mechanics, energetics, and structural adaptations. Ornis Scandinavica 17: 191 - 209.

Laurent, J.-L. (1984) Flocking by tits, goldcrests, firecrests and treecreepers during autumn and winter in the Alpes-Maritimes department of France, and their behaviour in searching food. Alauda 52: 126 - 144.

Comments Sources look good, links checked out okay with the link checker tool. Ealdgyth - Talk 15:38, 25 May 2008 (UTC)

• Support Comments just a couple of small things (Moral or otherwise) I disclose that I am a member of wikiproject birds, but I hadn't seen this article before FAC...Cheers, Casliber (talk · contribs) 03:48, 26 May 2008 (UTC)

Its song is the best distinction from the very similar Short-toed Treecreeper which shares much of its European range. - scans oddly for me. Distinction I think of now in terms of university grades, how about "It can be most easily distinguished from the very similar Short-toed Treecreeper, which shares much of its European range, by its song" or "Its song is the key to distinguishing it from the very similar Short-toed Treecreeper which shares much of its European range" or something along those lines...(I know..I'm being really nitpicky but the article is good :))

reworded as per comment

The Brown Creeper has sometimes been considered to be a subspecies of Common Treecreeper, but has closer similarities to Short-toed Treecreeper, -'affinity' for 'similarities' here?

reworded as per comment

It is common through much of its range, but in the northernmost areas it is rare or local, - I guess 'local' here is 'localized' as in occurring in small pockets?

reworded, removed localised, since meaning conveyed by rare. Thanks for the constructive suggestions, jimfbleak (talk) 06:22, 26 May 2008 (UTC)

• Comment: Image:Treecreepermap.png: image should provide a source for the range information. Also, this really is a terrible image (blurry map and disorderly, imprecise coloration - done in MS paint?). Given that featured articles are required to "exemplif[y] our very best work", this image does not appear appropiate. Please consider a visit to the graphics lab (I don't know their turn around times) or, if the range source is online or could be provided, I'd be willing to make an alternative version. ЭLСОВВОLД _talk 19:27, 27 May 2008 (UTC)

Sources added -AFAIK, the map doesn't exist on-line. The range map is as accurate as these things ever are. The outline is from WP:MAPS, and seems to be all there is available for free use. The mapping is done with what I've got available, which doesn't include professional software or skills. I don't think a map is a requirement for FA - see Osprey and Cattle Egret, so is it best to just delete it? jimfbleak (talk) 06:23, 28 May 2008 (UTC)

I think it is better than no map. We could ask around for some other map drawers. Cheers, Casliber (talk · contribs) 06:27, 28 May 2008 (UTC)

If anyone is prepared to take it on, I could email scans of the BWP and Harrap maps jimfbleak (talk) 06:32, 28 May 2008 (UTC)

• Support, despite the fact that I wish I had a "rufous rump". I read the article earlier in the day and wanted to read it again. I went to lunch and told my partner I read this article, and when she quizzed me on it, I was able to tell her so much about the common treecreeper I stopped mid-recitation and realized I was yammering on about a bird I had never seen. --Moni3 (talk) 01:39, 30 May 2008 (UTC)

Many thanks, it's a nice little bird, but unlikely to get to Florida. Your partner would be even more concerned if you did have a rufous rump (: jimfbleak (talk) 05:18, 30 May 2008 (UTC)

The above discussion is preserved as an archive. Please do not modify it. No further edits should be made to this page.