About this species
The Eurasian Wryneck (Jynx torquilla) is a small migratory woodpecker that breeds across Europe and temperate Asia. Within the Central Asian Flyway (CAF), it breeds across northern Kazakhstan, Mongolia, and parts of Central Asia, with eastern populations migrating south to winter in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. The species inhabits open woodlands, forest edges, orchards, riparian forests, wooded pastures, and farmland with scattered trees, feeding primarily on ants and their larvae, supplemented by other invertebrates. Unlike most woodpeckers, it forages mainly on the ground and nests in tree cavities or nest boxes. Globally classified as Least Concern, the species has experienced significant regional declines due to habitat loss, agricultural intensification, pesticide use, and reductions in ant populations, although its global population is currently considered stable. The Eurasian Wryneck is featured in European folklore for its distinctive snake-like neck-twisting display, which inspired its common name and various traditional beliefs.