Eurasian Wryneck Jynx torquilla Scientific name definitions

16–18 cm; c. 30–50 g. Small, aberrant, long-tailed woodpecker with short, pointed bill very narrow across nostrils. Both sexes have forehead to hindneck pale grey, speckled darker, finely barred black and rufous, with tiny white feather tips (white spots and black bars usually more distinct on crown); narrow creamy stripe from nostril to below eye; thin creamy supercilium, broad rufous-mottled black band from eye through upper ear-coverts and irregularly down neck side; buff to cinnamon-buff stripe from bill base to lower ear-coverts and neck side, usually finely barred dark; upperparts pale grey, finely dark-speckled and with narrow dark shaft streaks, feathers sometimes with black, rufous and whitish marks at tips; central mantle black , edged rufous, this pattern often continuing as irregular band up to crown centre; outer scapulars black, large pale buffish spot at tip; wing-coverts and tertials brownish-buff, speckled grey and rufous-buff, thin black shaft streaks, black subterminal bars, creamy tips; primaries and secondaries dark brown with rufous-buff spot-bars; tail with usually 4–5 (variable) irregular, thin black bars often bordered by grey and buff bands; chin whitish, throat and upper breast buff or cinnamon-buff, all narrowly vermiculated black, often incomplete dark malar stripe; rest of underparts whitish with variable cream or buff suffusion, narrow dark bars on breast, arrowhead marks on lower underparts (extent of markings variable, belly often plain); underwing barred grey and white, coverts buff with black bars; bill dark horn-brown, often tinged green; iris brown to red-brown; legs brownish to grey-green, occasionally tinged yellow or pink. Differs from J. ruficollis in lack of rufous on throat and breast, more barred than streaked flanks. Juvenile like adult, but duller, darker, more barred (less streaked) above, more clearly barred below, fewer but more pronounced tail bars, outer primary much longer. Race tschusii is darker than nominate, has dark patch on upperparts more prominent, markings below heavier, shorter wings more rounded; mauretanica similar but slightly smaller, paler below; himalayana is much more strongly barred below, including belly.

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Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Open forest, clearings, woodland with low undergrowth, wooded pasture, and unimproved meadowland with scattered trees, so long as dry and sunlit, and grass areas not too well developed; avoids damper vegetation and higher mountains. Prefers open riparian forest, and lighter parts of more closed mixed or deciduous broadleaf forest and forest edge; also copses, avenues, plantations, parks, orchards, larger gardens, non-intensive farmland; locally, also pure stands of pine (Pinus) or larch (Larix). In non-breeding season, open dry woodland, bushy grassland and gardens, in S Asia typically in scrub, thickets, also in canopy of forest and in cultivations; overwinterers in S Europe found mostly in coastal wetlands and maquis. Migrants also in treeless open habitats, including desert. Mostly lowlands to c. 1000 m, occasionally higher, in Europe to 1600 m in Alps and Caucasus; in Himalayas, breeds at 1500–3300 m; non-breeders to 1800 m in SE Asia.

Largely migratory. European and W Asian populations move to W, C & E Africa, E populations to mainly N & C Indian Subcontinent and SE Asia; migrates mainly at night, can cover 600 km in eight days. Leaves Europe in late summer, sometimes as early as Jul; some Scandinavian birds wander through Britain; otherwise, passage on broad front through C Europe mid-Aug to end Sept, crossing Alps, and then Iberia or the Balkans, reaching African winter quarters from late Aug and early Sept; birds from E Europe and W Asia probably move through Turkey and Arabia, with peak in Caucasus mid-Aug, in C Anatolia end Sept or early Oct; present in E Africa Oct–Apr. Returns N begins Jan–Mar, reaching C European breeding grounds early Apr, Russia and Mongolia late Apr to early May, and N Europe by mid-May. Some individuals of nominate race winter in Mediterranean region and in SE Iran; Mediterranean race tschusii and N African mauretanica migrate short distances, or make only altitudinal movements. Seven individuals equipped with geolocators during the breeding season in Switzerland and E Germany spent the winter either in the Iberian Peninsula or in Morocco (4 Van Wijk, R.E., Schaub, M., Tolkmitt, D., Becker, D. and Hahn, S. (2013). Short-distance migration of Wrynecks Jynx torquilla from Central European populations. Ibis. 155(4): 886–890. Close ). In E Asia, migrants pass through Korea in Sept, and in Apr–May; non-breeders present early Sept to end Apr in N India, Oct–Apr in Myanmar. Straggles occasionally to W Alaska (just one record, in Sep 2003, since late 1940s) (5 Howell, S. N. G., I. Lewington, and W. Russell (2014). Rare Birds of North America. Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ, USA. Close ).

Diet mostly ants, mainly larvae and pupae; other insects include e.g. small beetles, aphids (Aphididae), Lepidoptera, dipteran flies, bugs (Hemiptera). Some spiders taken, also woodlice (Isopoda); occasionally molluscs, frog tadpoles (Rana), bird eggs; rarely, plant matter (berries). In Europe, the ant genera Lasius and Tetramorium especially important; in studies of seven broods in two areas of Switzerland, using photography at nest, Lasius, Formica, Tetramorium, Tapinoma and Myrmica were brought to nestlings, and ants recorded in 95% of feeds. On non-breeding grounds, genera Crematogaster and Camponotus are typical prey. Forages mainly on the ground , occasionally in trees. Procures prey from crevices or from the surface; uses bill to open anthills. Hops on ground and along horizontal or sloping branches.

Song slightly ascending series of 8–15 “kwia” notes, sometimes raucous, similar to call of small falcon (Falco), by single bird or both of pair simultaneously; low, guttural notes during close contacts between mates; long wavering series of “tak” notes in alarm; hissing notes by nestlings in defence.

Lays in May–Jun; in S of range, second clutch sometimes laid in Jun, rarely Jul, occasionally third brood attempted. Territorial; home range large at start of breeding season, shrinking considerably after pairing; sings on exposed perch or from prospective nest-hole. On meeting, partners display by head-swinging with ruffled head feathers; courtship feeding may extend into incubation period. Nest-site selected by both sexes, in natural cavity, in old hole of another woodpecker, or in artificial nestbox, at height of 1–15 m; occasionally in building in China; cavity cleaned out over several days, removes any eggs or chicks of other hole-nester. Clutch 7–12 eggs, sometimes far fewer, but clutches of 18–23 eggs are product of more than one female; incubation by both adults, average period c. 11–12 days; nestlings fed by both parents, respond to intruders with characteristic snake-like head movements and hissing, fledge after 20–22 days, independent 1–2 weeks later. Breeding success good; fledging rate over 70%; productivity 3–4 young per pair. First breeds at one year. Longevity generally 2–10 years.

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). European population estimated at c. 382,000 pairs, of which most in E, including c. 158,000 in Russia; 45,000 in Spain, probably 5000–10,000 in Sweden, c. 4000 in Finland. Densities vary widely, in Europe decreasing from E to W & S and with preference for continental climate over maritime one, e.g. 1 pair/2·5 km² in Russia and Belarus but < 1 pair/50 km² in Denmark, Netherlands , Greece and Portugal; in E Europe, densities in optimal habitats can be high, with inter-nest distances of just 40–50 m, even 20 m. In NW Himalayas, scarce to locally common; uncommon in N Pakistan, frequent in Kashmir. In W & C Europe, long-term decline since mid-19th century, with considerable reduction in range and numbers during 20th century; disappeared from N France and from parts of Belgium, Netherlands and Germany after 1960s; rapid decline in Britain, where almost extinct by 1990s; numbers in Finland and Sweden decreased by over 50% in latter decades of 20th century. Decline possibly initiated by climatic changes, with increase in rainfall during breeding season; since 1950s, various other factors, including loss of important habitats such as orchards and unimproved meadows, replacement of hardwoods with conifers, and intensive farming practices accompanied by large-scale pesticide and herbicide usage, are likely major causes of acceleration of the decline; reduction of ant populations almost certainly a further significant factor.