Wryneck
wryneck
(the letter ‘w’ is silent)
a kind of bird – belongs to the ‘woodpecker’ family – greyish all over with (dark) brown and buff mottling, large head, with relatively long, pointed beak (bill) with long, barbed and sticky tongue, relatively long neck, moderately long, slender legs with long toes – two facing forward and two facing backwards, relatively long tail with soft feathers; size: 6-8 inches long, and weight: 25-60 grams; feeds on insects (mostly those found on the ground); lives for 6=10 (?) years; 4 species, found in Europe, Asia and the Americas
Special Features:
The most striking feature of the wryneck is its habit of turning its head almost 180º!
- wryneck twisting its neck
It twists its neck to one side tilting the beak in the opposite side as if it were in pain (writhe), and so the name ‘wryneck’! And it uses this feature, along with a low hissing sound, to scare away any predators!!
Unlike its relatives the woodpeckers, the wrynecks mostly feed on the insects found on ground!
Woodpeckers have stiff tail feathers, and can climb tree trunks vertically, but the wrynecks have soft feathers, and so cannot climb tree trunks vertically!
Wrynecks are considered to be evil and are believed to ‘cast a spell’ or bring bad luck, and is often considered a ‘jinx‘, some bad luck. In fact ‘wrynecks’ are originally called “iynx” or “jinx” bird. Even to this day, wryneck or jinx bird’s feathers are used in making ‘charms’ or in black magic!!!
Figures of Speech:
wry neck (noun) = a person or animal with a peculiar disease called ‘torticollis’ (‘torticollis’ = a kind of disease in which the patient’s head is flexed (twisted) to one side by contraction of muscles, face rotated to the opposite side, and the chin titled upwards)
Mr. Kumar, an English language teacher, having taught in many countries around the world including Ethiopia and Oman shares this English Language Reference website using material that he has written and compiled during the past 20 years.