The wryneck (Jynx torquilla) — an unusual member of the woodpecker family — was once a familiar summer visitor to southern England but became extinct as a UK breeding bird by the 1980s. Its extraordinary cryptic plumage, snake-like neck movements (giving the species its common name), and habitat requirements make it one of Britain's most distinctive lost breeding species.
Biology and Ecology
Wrynecks are migratory, insectivorous birds that winter in sub-Saharan Africa and breed in Europe. They use woodpecker holes and nest boxes for breeding but unlike most woodpeckers cannot excavate their own cavities. Their primary prey is ants and ant larvae — they probe anthills and short turf with a long, sticky tongue, consuming large quantities of Formica and Lasius ant species.
UK Breeding Extinction
The wryneck bred across much of England and Wales until the mid-20th century. Breeding decline accelerated sharply from the 1960s, with the last confirmed English nesting in Suffolk in 1985. Causes are debated but likely include:
- Loss of anthills and short-turfed grassland supporting ant colonies — driven by agricultural intensification, nitrogen deposition, and grazing changes
- Climate changes affecting insect prey availability during the breeding season
- Competition for nest holes from house sparrows, starlings, and other cavity-nesters
- Possible declines in overwintering habitat in Africa
Current Status
Wrynecks are regular passage migrants — particularly in eastern coastal counties of England in autumn (August–September), when Scandinavian breeding birds drift westward. Scottish breeding pairs are occasionally recorded, likely from a small Scandinavian-origin population. Population establishment in England has not occurred despite habitat restoration efforts.
Conservation Potential
Creating and maintaining ant-rich grassland — achieved through reduced fertiliser inputs, appropriate grazing, and elimination of ant-killing pesticide use — addresses the primary habitat deficit. Provision of nest boxes (nestbox inner dimensions approximately 12×12×25cm) in suitable habitat provides nesting opportunities. Whether habitat restoration alone can drive recolonisation without supplementary releases remains uncertain but is the preferred conservation approach given natural Scandinavian breeding population proximity.