The common spiny wood finch, also known as the tree climbing bird, is a common species in China. The upper body is tan with brownish-white feathers; the upper waist and tail coverts are brownish red; the tail feathers are black brown on the inside and light brown on the outside; and the upper wing coverts are black brown with brownish-white feathers. The underparts are milky white and brown, and the lower flanks and tail coverts are pale brownish white. The toes have long, curved claws. The tail feathers are pointed and hard, suitable for supporting the body when climbing the trunk. The wings are short and round, with weak flight ability, and usually only make short, undulating, wavy flights. Peck at insects on tree trunks and bark cracks with a slender, curved mouth. When foraging, it is often rotated upward from the base of the trunk, and when it is turned to the upper part of the trunk, it flies to the base of another tree and continues to crawl upward in the same way. Nests in cracks in the bark or in tree holes, cup-shaped nests, made of twigs, grass stems, mosses and other things. 5 to 7 eggs are laid per clutch. The eggs are white with reddish-brown spots and densely banded at the blunt ends. There are 4 species of this bird in China,
