Brown Creepers are common Minnesota yard and woodland birds, but uncommonly seen. They've evolved colors that blend almost seamlessly with tree bark. Their rapid and continuous movement up tree trunks is their most visible element. Today, as I was on our deck with a camera in my lap, a creeper began working a tree about 15 feet in front of me. The bird stayed on that tree for about 10 minutes, an opportunity I've never had before, especially while seated. Creepers cling to tree bark with long, sharp claws attached to long pink/buff-colored toes. I think the toes resemble spiders. They're creepy. This species eats insects. Hunting on trees, it pokes a sharp, long, curved bill behind bark flaps, seeking spiders, spider eggs, and other bugs. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology web site reports a single spider will provide the bird with enough energy to climb 200 feet vertically. Creepers burn from four to 10 calories a day.

The bird's toes are long, the rear toe very long. The feet remind me of spiders.