Wryneck (Jynx torquilla)
| Family | Woodpeckers (Picidae) |
| Wingspan | 25-27 cm |
| Weight | 30-45 g |
| Appearance | grey-brown plumage with bands and speckles, females slightly paler than males, the latter with rusty-red tones in breeding plumage |
| Migratory bird | winters south of the Sahara |
| Conservation status | Red List Luxembourg Category 3 – Vulnerable (VU) |
The Wryneck is slightly larger than a sparrow and ideally camouflaged in trees with its bark-like coloured plumage. Although it belongs to the woodpecker family, the wryneck does not build its own burrows, but uses existing burrows of other woodpeckers. When threatened, the wryneck erects its head feathers and coils its head like a snake, which gave it its name. This defensive behaviour is intended to distract potential attackers. The wryneck is a summer bird in most of Europe, but spends the winter in West and Central Africa. In Luxembourg, it is more common in the Gutland than in the Ösling, mainly because of the more frequent orchards there, which are among its preferred habitats in this country. Here and in habitats with sparse woods, as well as sunny terrain rich in trees and hedges, the species finds its main food. This consists of ants and their pupae. However, butterflies, spiders, small beetles and aphids are also collected, especially during the breeding season. Due to the decrease in fruit tree populations and the use of pesticides, the wryneck has also become rarer.