Eurasian Wryneck

Photo by Nigel Blake
Photo taken: Norfolk, UK

Jynx torquilla

Identification

Plumage is mostly grey and brown with darker streaks

Distribution

Breeds widely across Europe from northern Iberia and western France east to the Urals, Caspian and north Caucasus and across temperate Asia to China and northern Japan. In the north virtually absent from British Isles but breeds over most of Scandinavia except the higher mountains and the far north, and across Russia south of 650N. Breeds south to the northern coast of the Mediterranean from north-east Spain to northern Greece and on Mallorca, Ibiza, Corsica, Sardinia and Sicily. Also breeds sparingly in southern Portugal and in north Algeria.

Mainly a summer visitor but in the far south of range may be partially migratory or resident. Main autumn passage period is August-October, the return in April-May. Passage birds occur throughout Europe, North Africa, the Middle East and southern Asia. Winters in tropical Africa, India, South-East Asia, southern China and southern Japan.

Formerly a regular and fairly widespread breeder in Britain, now mainly a scarce passage migrant with 200-400 birds per year, mainly in August-October, with occasional summering birds and sporadic breeding records. Similar declines have been seen elsewhere in Europe, particularly in northern France and in North Sea countries.

Accidental vagrant to Alaska (two records).

Taxonomy

There are 4 subspecies recognised by Clements

Subspecies^[1]

• J. t. torquilla:

• Westelrn Europe to South-eastern Asia and Japan; winters to Africa and south Asia

• J. t. tschusii:

• Italy, Sardinia, Corsica and eastern Adriatic coast; winters in Africa

• J. t. mauretanica:

• Northwest Africa

• J. t. himalayana:

• North-western Himalayas; winters to southern India at lower elevations

In addition Jynx torquilla sarudnyi, Jynx torquilla chinensis, Jynx torquilla japonic are recognised by some authorities^[2]

Habitat

Open woodland, deciduous or mixed, clearings and edges of forest, orchards, parks and large gardens. Nest in a tree-hole. Occurs in a range of more open habitats on passage including cultivated areas, close-cropped grassland, sand-dunes and shingle beaches.

Behaviour

Diet

Mainly insects and ants.

Breeding

They will use old woodpecker holes and wood piles to lay their white eggs.

Vocalisation

<flashmp3>Jynx torquilla (song).mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program

References

1. Clements, JF. 2008. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2008. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.

1. Woodpeckers of Europe: A Study of the European Picidae. Gerard Gorman. ISBN 1-872842-05-4

• List of references

Recommended Citation

• BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Eurasian Wryneck. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 3 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Eurasian_Wryneck

External Links

Search for photos of Eurasian Wryneck in the gallery

• View movie-clip (in Google-Video format) here