The wryneck, the strangest member of the woodpecker family, no longer breeds in the UK but passes through in spring and autumn. Its welfare during migration reflects the health of its continental breeding populations.
Wryneck welfare during UK passage depends on finding suitable feeding habitat at coastal migration stopover sites. Birds arriving after long sea crossings are exhausted and require immediate access to ant-rich short grassland or bare soil for feeding. Manicured lawns provide no food value; rough grassland with ant colonies is essential. Disturbance from birdwatchers who 'twitch' rare birds can prevent passage migrants from feeding and resting adequately before continuing migration. Responsible observation from distance and avoidance of flushing birds is a direct welfare protection. The decline of western European wryneck populations means UK passage numbers may fall further.