Wryneck  (Jynx torquilla)

There seems to be no single reason why wrynecks appear to have declined in the UK, although it is known that their numbers have been falling for over a century, with a marked reduction since the 1950s. Their favoured breeding habitats still exist in many areas, apparently sufficient to support a reasonable-sized population of the birds, whilst there does not seem to be a shortage of ants. However, increased pesticide use, coupled with changes to habitats in some areas, may be the main cause of the birds’ disappearance.

The wryneck is listed as a priority species in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan. In recent years, the birds have bred occasionally in the Scottish Highlands although, as elsewhere in the UK, this has been sporadic. The lead partners for this species, the RSPB, are pledged to retain the wryneck as a British breeding bird, and are monitoring its progress each year. However, the best that can be done at the present is to protect those sites where the birds attempt nesting, and guard against possible disturbance to the nest itself.