Jynx torquilla
The Eurasian Wryneck (Jynx torquilla) is a fascinating and uniquely adapted member of the woodpecker family (Picidae), though it bears little resemblance to its tree-drilling relatives. Measuring 16-18 cm in length with a wingspan of 25-30 cm and weighing 30-50 grams, its cryptic plumage is a masterpiece of camouflage, featuring intricate patterns of grey, brown, rufous, and black streaking and barring, making it blend seamlessly with tree bark and ground litter. A prominent dark eye-stripe, ...
Found in open woodlands, orchards, parklands, hedgerows, and scrub with scattered old trees, often near clearings or edges, typically at low to mid-elevations where ant nests are abundant.
Almost exclusively myrmecophagous, feeding on ants (Formicidae) and their pupae/larvae, supplemented occasionally by other small insects like aphids, beetles, and caterpillars. Primarily forages by probing the ground, tree trunks, and rotting wood with its specialized tongue.
Diurnal, the Eurasian Wryneck primarily forages on the ground or on tree trunks and branches for ants, employing a long, sticky tongue that can extend up to 10 cm. Males establish territories with their distinctive mournful calls and engage in courtship displays involving head-turning and posturi...
The Eurasian Wryneck boasts a vast breeding range across the Palaearctic, extending from Western Europe (though declining in many areas) eastward through Central Asia and Siberia, reaching parts of Mongolia, China, and Japan. Its core breeding stronghold lies in Eastern Europe and Russia. During ...
Least Concern
- Its common name, 'Wryneck,' comes from its distinctive defensive behavior of twisting its head and neck in a snake-like manner when threatened. - Unlike most woodpeckers, the Eurasian Wryneck does not excavate its own nest holes, relying instead on pre-existing cavities. - It can extend its spe...