8x11 Oil on Cedar
 
The small wallcreeper (l'échelette) is an extremely elusive bird that lives throughout high mountains of southern Eurasia, including the Pyrenees and the Alps. He dwells on steep mountain cliffs where he hides his nest in a secure rock crevice for protection from larger predators.  He is almost constantly in motion and flicks his wings open like a butterfly to display his dazzling red, black and white wings.  To defend his feeding territory and nest, he soars in prolonged aerial flights and emits a chi dweeoo call and other whistles.   Normally he is seen hopping, with very large feet, along steep mountain surfaces  and can be quite tame, but often surprisingly difficult to  see.