Eurasian Wryneck
Jynx torquilla
Eurasian Wryneck (Jynx torquilla) — Woodpeckers & Toucans of Europe & Northern Asia.
Found across 10 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Eurasian Wryneck (Jynx torquilla) is a member of the Picidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 35 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Piciformes
- Family Picidae Woodpeckers
- Genus Jynx
- Species torquilla
Quick facts
- Weight
- 35 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Picidae
- Order
- Piciformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Eurasian Wryneck is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of dense woodland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Eurasian Wryneck is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Eurasian Wryneck (Jynx torquilla) is a member of the Picidae family, within the order Piciformes. It is found across Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL widespread.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 35 g, with a wing length of about 8.7 cm and a tail of around 6.8 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 17.6 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Eurasian Wryneck?
The Eurasian Wryneck is a small bird that weighs around 35 g.
Where does the Eurasian Wryneck live?
The Eurasian Wryneck is found across Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL widespread, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Eurasian Wryneck belong to?
The Eurasian Wryneck (Jynx torquilla) belongs to the Picidae family, in the order Piciformes.
What does the Eurasian Wryneck eat?
The Eurasian Wryneck is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Eurasian Wryneck migrate?
The Eurasian Wryneck is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Eurasian Wryneck endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Eurasian Wryneck make?
1 real field recording of the Eurasian Wryneck — including its duet — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Eurasian Wryneck's range?
The Eurasian Wryneck has a mapped global range of about 17.6 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
Best Suet Feeders for Woodpeckers
How to choose a suet feeder for woodpeckers — the styles compared, why a tail prop helps, and how to keep starlings off. A decision framework with the woodpecker species in the Birbs encyclopedia.
Meet the Picidae
A field guide to the Picidae family — 239 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.