Races:
Jynx torquilla torquilla Linnaeus, 1758

Synonyms

Jynx torquilla sarudnyi Loudon, 1912
Jynx torquilla hyrcana Zarudny, 1913
Jynx torquilla harterti Polyakov, 1915

Description

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.

Biology

Common breeding migrant. Inhabits flood plain deciduous forests, birch steppe forest islands, mountain deciduous and mixed forests of river valleys and nearby lakes (on Altai up to 1900 m.). On migration occurs in steppe and desert with bushes near water, in gardens, parks, forest-belts and in highlands up to 2800 m. Arrives singly in mid-April – early May, migration finishes in early June. In Naurzum Reserve 29 April 1972 one bird collected. Breeding in separate pairs at 150-200 m each of other. Nests situated in tree holes (elm, birch, asp, poplar, willow or larch), nest-boxes or in hole of house, made of logs, at 1-12 m above ground, without any lining. Clutches of 6-12 eggs in end of May – late June. Female incubates from last egg for 11-12 days. Juveniles fledge in July – early August. Repeated nesting after loss of first clutches is probably. Autumn migration begins in early August, area of Markakol' lake they leave until end August. At Chokpak Pass latest recorded in end September – early October.

References

Gavrilov E. I., Gavrilov A. E. "The Birds of Kazakhstan". Almaty, 2005
Э.И.Гаврилов. "Фауна и распространение птиц Казахстана". Алматы, 1999.
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. http://www.rspb.org.uk