File:Britain's birds and their nests (1910) (14568934767).jpg

Identifier: britainsbirdsthe00thom (find matches)
Title: Britain's birds and their nests
Year: 1910 (1910s)
Authors: Thomson, Arthur Landsborough, Sir, 1890- Thomson, J. Arthur (John Arthur), 1861-1933 Rankin, George
Subjects: Birds -- Great Britain Birds -- Nests
Publisher: London : W. & R. Chambers
Contributing Library: American Museum of Natural History Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

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and Midlands of Englandit is not uncommon, but it is less numerous in Wales and,the north. In Scotland it was formerly fairly widespread,but became almost extinct till it began to re-establishitself some years ago. Its extension of range is beingwatched with interest, and it is debated whether the newstock is of English or Scandinavian origin. For thisWoodpecker is remarkable in being migratoiy, occurringin winter on our eastern seaboard. At that season, too,it sometimes wanders to Ireland, where no species ofWoodpecker is usually found. THE LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER (Dendrocopus minor). The I^esser Spotted Woodpecker is also less luicommonthan is often supposed. It has a similar breeding rangein England and Wales to that of its congener, but it isnot known as a migrant. It does not differ widely inhabits or in appearance, but for the markedly smallersize and the white bars across the back. The eggs, too,are smaller than those of the Great Spotted Wood-pecker, though similar in shape.
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Plate 66, WRYNECK—/>;n- torquWIa. Length, 7 in. ; wing, 3-4 in. (Picari.e : Picidre ; lyngidi^^.)•2 A 214 BRITAIN^S BIRDS AND THEIR NESTS. 215 Subfamily, IYNGID^ (Wrynecks). THE WRYNECK (lynx torquilla).Plate 66. The loud ringing Qui, qui, qui ■ of the Wiyneck,while slightly resembling a Kestrels cry, is not altogetherunsuggestive of a Woodpecker, and many features andhabits of the bird also betray a relationship with themembers of that group. Its curious, snake-like movementsand the dark lines on the delicately pencilled brownplumage are as typical as the note. When disturbed inits nesting-hole it utters a hissing sound, which, with themovements refen-ed to, gives appropriateness to the popularname * Snake-Bird. Altogether it is a quite unmistakablespecies. It is only, however, in a rather limited area of theBritish Isles that the Wryneck is to be seen and heard—namely, the Midlands and more southerly and easterlyportions of England. In this area it is a breeding species,b

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