Eurasian Wryneck

Photo by Nigel Blake
Norfolk, UK, September 2006

Jynx torquilla

Identification

16 - 18cm (6-7 in). An unusual, distinctive woodpecker.

• Mottled grey and brown above
• Buffish-ochre breast dark vermiculated
• Whitish belly dark vermiculated
• Dark line through eye and down neck-side
• Broad dark line along centre of crown and back
• Short pointed bill

Sexes similar.

Similar species

Rufous-necked Wryneck has rufous on throat and breast and has streaked (not barred) flanks.

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.

Photo by daniel31083
Bulgaria

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

Subspecies

There are 4 subspecies^[1]:

• J. t. torquilla:

• Western 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 3 further subspecies sarudnyi, chinensis and japonica 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

Feeds mostly on ants, larvae and pupae, and other insects.
Frequently forages on ground, occasionally in trees.

Breeding

Breeding season from May to June, in south of range a second clutch is sometimes laid in June or July.
Places the nest in an old woodpecker hole, a natural cavity or in a nest box. Lays 7 to 12 white eggs.

Vocalisation

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

References

1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2015. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2015, with updates to August 2015. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
2. Del Hoyo, J, A Elliot, and J Sargatal, eds. 2002. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 7: Jacamars to Woodpeckers. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8487334375
3. Avibase
4. 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

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