It was described as new to science (initially as a subspecies of the common treecreeper C. familiaris) in 1995 from 14 specimens taken at four sites in the mountains of western Sichuan, China.

In 2002, it was realized that these birds constituted a distinct species, and subsequent research[2] suggests it is closest to the Nepal treecreeper (C. nipalensis).

Within this small area, the species is thought to be patchily distributed because it seems to be confined to old stands of the Faber's fir.

Intensive logging of primary coniferous forests in the last century, even at high altitudes in the mountains of western China, has seriously reduced the potential range of this species.

The Wawu Shan table mountain has steep slopes which are inaccessible to lumberjacks in the absence of extensive road construction, but it is not yet formally protected, and there are plans to open up the regions for tourism by building a cable railway.