This close-up shows the facial patterns and small thin bill. The chin pattern is buff with barring. The thin bill and barring on the chin and breast can also be seen here. The Rufous-necked Wryneck has a rufous throat and breast. A dark patch that extends from the nape to the back.
Wrynecks feed mainly on ants and their larvae.
This is accomplished with a long sticky tongue. 6 - Eurasian Wryneck wing The wing is also cryptically colored. The tail of the Wryneck is barred and lacks the stiffened tips on the central tail feathers characteristic of other woodpeckers. The feet appear much like those of a perching bird, but careful inspection shows that the toe arrangement is zygodactyl, typical of woodpeckers, with two toes forward and two toes rearward. Our thanks go to Amanda and Barny for kindly making this specimen available for this set of photos, to Earl Crowder at Crane NWSC who found this bird, and Steve Andrews, Wildlife Biologist at Crane NWSC who passed it on to the folks at Purdue.