Species Guide | Wryneck (Jynx torquilla)
APPEARANCE
The Wryneck (Jynx torquilla) is part of the woodpecker family. Once a familiar sight across the U.K., the Wryneck has sadly become extinct as a breeding bird. This decline can be attributed to various factors such as habitat loss, deforestation, climate change, and excessive use of insecticides during the 19th century. However, they continue to migrate through the U.K., traveling to and from their European summer breeding grounds, before settling in Africa for the winter.
Wrynecks are truly a master of disguise! Its feathers are a combination of mottled brown and grey, with a slightly lighter shade on its chest and tummy. It boasts a distinctive dark line that runs across its eye and down its back.
Diet
The primary food source for the Eurasian wryneck is ants, although they also consume beetles and their larvae, moths, woodlice & spiders.
HABITAT
This bird, which used to be commonly found in central and southern England, was known for its preference for commons, heathland, orchards, parkland, and larger gardens. Most Wryneck sightings occurred in the Scottish Highlands.
The decline and eventual extinction of this species in the U.K. is believed to have been caused by a decrease in the availability of food. This was primarily attributed to a shortage of bare ground and short vegetation. However, other factors may have contributed, and include agricultural intensification, climate change, an increase in conifer plantations, and the harmful effects of pesticides.
Note that this map is for a rough illustration of animal distribution across the UK1, whereby light green indicates confirmed summer sightings.
Behavior
The unique pattern of the Wryneck allows it to blend in seamlessly with its surroundings, resembling a broken branch when it remains completely still. But blending in is not its only impressive skill. When the Wryneck feels threatened or distressed, it has the astonishing ability to twist and turn its head and body in a way that mimics a snake! They are generally quiet birds, but can sometimes be heard when they return each year to their breeding grounds.
Wryneck Call:
Markus Jacobs, xeno-canto.org
Wrynecks are hole-nesting birds. They prefer to take over nest holes already constructed by other birds. They will also take to nest boxes. They lay up to 2 broods per year, each consisting of up to 10 eggs. Eggs take two weeks to hatch and are fully fledged after two to three weeks.
STATS
In terms of physical characteristics, adult Wrynecks can weigh up to 44 grams, with a wingspan of up to 94 mm and a total body length of up to 170 mm. What sets them apart from other woodpecker species is their inability to carve holes in wood or engage in drumming behavior. Instead, they ingeniously construct their nests within pre-existing hollows in wood that have been created by other animals.
| Wing Length2 | 94 mm |
| Body Weight2 | 44 grams |
| Longevity | 2 Years |
NATURAL PREDATORS
In the U.K they are predated upon by sparrow-hawks, and also susceptible to their nests being raided by mammals.
Conservation Status
According to official records, there are no breeding pairs of Wrynecks left in the UK. Globally, Wrynecks are considered to be of Least Concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Global
Conservation Status
References
- Population data based on BTO assessment
- Featherbase
