The Wryneck name

There are two species of wryneck (Jynx) in the world. This Eurasian Wryneck J.torquilla is doing what wrynecks do, twisting its neck, hence the name. Photo by Yann Cambon, France, 2013.

The malar stripe

The malar is a stripe that runs from the lower edge of the lower mandible below the cheek and down the sides of chin and often towards the throat. It should not to be confused with the moustache which is placed higher on the face and runs from the gape of the bill or slightly above it. The malar is a common plumage feature in woodpeckers and often a key marking in separating the sexes. In those species that have a malar, the male's is often coloured whereas the females is not or is lacking. This Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus is a male as it has a classic broad black malar; the female of this species lacks the malar. Photo taken in Cuba by Gerard Gorman.

Picid in Focus: White-throated Woodpecker male

Male White-throated Woodpecker Piculus leucolaemus. Males have all-red crowns and red malar, females have red only on the nape. Photo by Gerard Gorman, Afluentes, Peru, November 2012.

Picid in Focus: Black Woodpecker juvenile

Black Woodpecker Dryocopus martius juvenile female. Note the black fore-crown and red hind-crown - juvenile males have an all-red crown. Photo by Yann Cambon taken in Dordogne, France.

Picid in Focus: Eurasian Wryneck

Eurasian Wryneck Jynx torquilla. There are two species of wryneck and they both differ from 'true' woodpeckers in many respects. For example, wrynecks do not excavate their own nest-holes but rather use those of other species or natural cavities. Photo by Gerard Gorman, Hungary, May 2013. 

Primary and Secondary Cavity Users

Most woodpeckers excavate their own holes in trees in which to breed and roost. They are 'primary cavity users'. Many other birds that cannot create such cavities, but need them as nesting sites, depend upon woodpecker holes. Such species are called 'secondary cavity users'. Here is an example: a young Tengmalm's Owl (aka Boreal Owl) looks out from a Black Woodpecker hole. In some cases the distribution and even breeding success of secondary cavity users is linked to woodpeckers. Photo by Thomas Hochebner taken in Austria.