Birds of the month
Head outside and discover fascinating birds each month. Read on for top ID tips, what to listen for, and where to see them.
Birds and wildlife
Wryneck
Jynx torquillaGroup: WoodpeckersUK Conservation status:Not assessed
How to identify
Wrynecks are small sparrow-sized birds, appearing greyish overall, with brown and buff mottling. They have a contrasting dark band running down from the back of the head onto the back. They feed almost exclusively on ants and unlike other woodpeckers, are seen mainly on the ground, and do not often climb up vertical trunks or branches. They are listed under Schedule 1 of The Wildlife and Countryside Act, making it an offence to intentionally or recklessly disturb them.Call
Wryneck
Patrik Åberg / xeno-canto
Key features to look out for
- A little larger than a sparrow
- Appears greyish overall, with brown and buff mottling
- Look out for a contrasting dark band running from the back of the head onto the back
- They are seen mainly on the ground, feeding on ants, and do not often climb up vertical trunks or branches
Conservation status
The Wryneck was once a breeding bird in the UK, but now it is usually only seen when it is passing through on migration in spring and autumn between Scandinavia and Africa. As it is no longer a breeding species here, it doesn’t have a rating in the Birds of Conservation Concern list.
Where and when to see them
On grassland usually in the east of the UK as it migrates in the autumn.
Difficulty rating - Hard
Some years there are more reports of Wrynecks than others.
Key
- Resident
- Passage
- Summer
- Winter
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Behaviour
They feed on ants on the ground. Most are seen near the east coast, as they migrate from Scandinavia to Africa, but they have been seen inland too and in people’s gardens.
Did you know?
Old names for the Wryneck include ‘twister’, ‘writhe neck’ and ‘snake bird’. These names recognise the Wryneck’s remarkable ability to turn its head from side to side and back and forth like a snake, in a move they use to deter predators. Their brown patterning or cryptic colouration helps to camouflage the bird.