Wryneck (Jynx torquilla)
The Wryneck (Jynx torquilla) used to breed in Britain, but it is considered extinct there now. It is a member of the woodpecker family, although there are several differences between the classical woodpeckers and the Wryneck. For a start, the Wryneck does not have a powerful bill and so does not excavate its own nest but uses cavities it finds in trees or walls. It is a regular migrant, with only a minority wintering in southern Europe. It cannot climb up tree trunks like the true woodpeckers, and it has a long tail. It feeds mainly on ants and so is often observed on the ground looking for ant nests as this individual was. It has a camouflaged plumage and so is not easy to spot. Its call, however, is very distinct and prolonged, and thus easily gives its presence away. This individual was a migrating bird photographed on the island of Ventotene, near Rome, central Italy.
Size: 5061px × 3363px
Location: Ventotene Island, near Rome, Italy
Photo credit: © Paul Harris / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
Keywords: ant, anthill, camouflage, cryptic, jynx, migrant, migration, torquilla, woodpecker, wryneck
