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Species › Birds

Eurasian Wryneck

Jynx torquilla

Order
Piciformes
Family
Picidae
Presence in the Strait
Seasonal
Abundance
scarce
Protection in Spain
Special protection (List)
In Spanish
Torcecuello euroasiatico

Photograph: Николай Гнездилов, CC BY, vía iNaturalist

Length
16–17 cm
Wingspan
25–27 cm
Weight
37 g
0102030LENGTH16–17 cmWINGSPAN25–27 cmcentimetres

Presence in the Strait

Scarce summer visitor in forests and scrub since the end of the ‘80s; more common during migration and winter.

Identification

Cryptic plumage similar to a Nightjar. Greyish back with dark band, brownish wings closely barred; underparts pale with short dark bars. Short bill and long tail with rounded tip. Conspicuous during breeding season, due to distinctive call, which sounds like a Kestrel.

Movements

Only migratory species in this family. Prenuptial peaks in 2nd hf. March and 1st hf. April; postnuptial peaks in 2nd hf. October and 1st hf. November.

Ring recoveries

Italy (1). Many retraps indicate fidelity to wintering and migration areas.

Bioestrecho editorial text. Last revised: 8 September 2026.

Gallery

Photographs from iNaturalist observations with the licence checked file by file. Those marked “Strait” were taken within the area; place and date are those of each observation.