A total of 11 species of woodpeckers (Picidae) occur in Europe, with just three of these breeding in Britain and a fourth, the Wryneck Jynx torquilla (Eurasian Wryneck in the international nomenclature), occurring uncommonly on passage. News of a Wryneck being found is always greeted gleefully by British birdwatchers, which is not surprising as it is regarded as one of the most unusual woodpeckers on the planet.
Having once nested throughout, the Wryneck is now only an occasional visitor to Britain, occurring uncommonly while on passage. Gerard Gorman investigates the factors which may have led to the decline of the species in Britain.