Eurasian Wryneck
NameEurasian Wryneck
Common NameEurasian Wryneck
Scientific NameJynx torquilla
FamilyPicidae
Wingspan (cm)27.5
Length (cm)17
Weight (g)40
Plumage DetailsCryptic, mottled plumage of browns, greys, and blacks, providing excellent camouflage against tree bark. It features a distinctive dark stripe running from the eye down the side of the neck, and a darker V-shaped pattern on its back. The underparts are paler with fine barring.
Vocalization / CallA distinctive, repeated, high-pitched 'que-que-que-que' or 'twee-twee-twee' call, often described as mournful or kestrel-like, especially during the breeding season.
Primary Dietinsectivore
Primary Habitatsopen woodland, orchards, parks, gardens, forest edges, scrubland
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeBreeds across most of Europe and temperate Asia, migrating to tropical Africa and South Asia for the winter. Its range extends from the UK eastward to Japan.
Identifying Featurescryptic bark-like plumage, snake-like neck twisting defense display, long, extensible tongue for ant foraging, distinctive dark stripe through the eye, upright posture on branches, but often seen on the ground
Description
A small, slender woodpecker with cryptic, bark-like plumage, often found foraging on the ground for ants. It is well-known for its unique defense display of twisting its neck and head in a snake-like fashion when threatened.
