Eurasian Wryneck Dec,2014 Sundarban For people who want to know more about this bird : Scientific name : Jynx torquilla This bird gets camouflaged very well when it perches on some trees. One almost cannot distinguish it from the bark of a tree unless the bird moves. We could spot it because luckily it wasnt sitting on a tree which looked like itself. The Wryneck gets its name from the ability to turn its head nearly 180 degrees( youtube/watch?v=coYuPHS6aJk). When disturbed, it uses this snake-like head twisting and hisses at the intruder. This odd behavior led to its use in witchcraft, hence to put a “jinx” on someone. The bill of the Eurasian Wryneck is shorter and less dagger-like than in true woodpeckers. It forages for ants and other insects by picking through decaying wood or bare soil. They reuse woodpecker holes for nesting, rather than making their own holes. (source : redorbit/education/reference_library/animal_kingdom/aves_birds/2582340/eurasian_wryneck/) In India this species breeds in north-west Himalayas & is a winter migrant to other parts of India.
Posted on: Sun, 28 Dec 2014 15:03:00 +0000