Eurasian Wryneck (Jynx torquilla) [XC570540]
by David Nayer from Betzental (near Ihringen), Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald, Freiburg, Baden-W\u00fcrttemberg, Germany (song)
Eurasian Wryneck (Jynx torquilla) [XC424106]
by Sayam U. Chowdhury from P.N. Zona Volc\u00e0nica de la Garrotxa (near Santa Pau), Girona, Catalu\u00f1a, Norway (song)
Nest
Natural or artificial hole of a tree, wall or bank.
Subspecies
Forms a superspecies with Rufous-necked Wryneck (Jynx ruficollis). Several additional subspecies described from Asia, but geographical variation largely clinal, also somewhat random, and individual variation notable, with much overlap in characters, and all are considered better lumped with nominate subspecies: birds breeding from Ural Mts to R Yenisey named as sarudnyi on basis of paler plumage with fewer markings below, and others farther eastern and in China as subspecies chinensis on basis of more barred plumage, but both populations contain individuals closely resembling or identical to western birds. Japanese birds described as japonica, more barred and with more rufous in plumage, but some are identical to western (including European) breeders.
The following 6 subspecies are recognised:
torquilla Linnaeus, 1758 - Most of Eurasia, except parts of S. Winters in Africa and southern Asia.
tschusii Kleinschmidt, O, 1907 - Corsica, Sardinia, Italy and eastern Adriatic coast. Winters in Africa.
The Reader's Digest Book of British Birds 1980, 3rd Edition, Drive Publications Ltd ISBN 0 340 25308 8
Birds in Colour Campbell, B., 1960, Penguin Books Ltd
The Pocket Guide to Nest and Eggs Fitter, R.S.R., 1954, Collins
RSPB Handbook of British Birds Holden, P., Cleeves, T., 2002, A & C Black ISBN 0 7136 5713 8
Birds of Britain and Europe Sterry, P., et al., 2001, AA Publishing ISBN 0 7495 3068 5
The Popular Handbook of British Birds Hollom, P.A.D., 1973, H.F. & G. Witherby Ltd ISBN 0 85493 002 7
BirdLife International Species Factsheet