Jynx ruficollis
Silhouette: Pepe Reigada · PhyloPic
In 3 days <5%
The red-throated wryneck (Jynx ruficollis), also known as the rufous-necked wryneck or red-breasted wryneck, is a species of wryneck in the woodpecker family closely related to the Eurasian wryneck. Its three subspecies are resident in much of sub-Saharan Africa in open habitats with some trees. It is a slim, elongated bird about 19 cm (7.5 in) in length, with a small head, fine bill, long fan-shaped tail and cryptic plumage intricately patterned in greys and browns. The sexes look similar, although males are slightly larger. The diet of the adults and young is almost entirely ants at all stages of their life cycles. The call of the red-throated wryneck is a series of repeated harsh, shrill notes. When threatened, a bird will twist its neck and head in a snake-like manner while making a hissing sound, presumably to deter predators.
The red-throated wryneck nests in pre-existing holes, usually in trees, preferring old barbet or woodpecker nests. The unlined nest cavity is usually 3–4 m (10–13 ft) above the ground, and the clutch is typically three or four white eggs, laid at one-day intervals. Both sexes incubate the eggs for 12–15 days until the blind, naked chicks hatch. The chicks are fed by both adults for 25–26 days until they fledge. There are usually two broods. The red-throated wryneck has a very extensive range, and its population is large and increasing. For this reason, it is evaluated as a species of least concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Golden Gate Highlands National Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 2 | Aberdare National Park | 🇰🇪 Kenya | |
| 3 | Addo Elephant National Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 4 | Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 5 | Mikumi National Park | 🇹🇿 Tanzania | |
| 6 | Kibale National Park | 🇺🇬 Uganda | |
| 7 | Masai Mara National Reserve | 🇰🇪 Kenya | |
| 8 | Bwindi Impenetrable National Park | 🇺🇬 Uganda | |
| 9 | Queen Elizabeth National Park | 🇺🇬 Uganda | |
| 10 | Kruger National Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa |
| # | City | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pretoria | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 2 | Johannesburg | 🇿🇦 South Africa |
Rare
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Rufous-necked Wryneck sighting in Kruger National Park on a given day, based on 9 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 429th most-seen of the 464 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to under 5%, if each day is a fresh chance.
Any time of year
In every month with enough records, under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Rufous-necked Wryneck in Kruger National Park on a given day, so our monthly data shows no clear season.
Between 7 and 10 am
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Rufous-necked Wryneck sightings with a recorded time, and nearly all of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
10th of 10
Of the 10 parks where we can rate Rufous-necked Wryneck sightings, Kruger National Park ranks 10th at under 5%. The best odds are in Golden Gate Highlands National Park (South Africa, about 20%), Aberdare National Park (Kenya, about 10%) and Addo Elephant National Park (South Africa, about 10%).
Same family: Picidae
The closest relatives of the Rufous-necked Wryneck that you can see in Kruger National Park (family Picidae, Woodpeckers) are Cardinal Woodpecker (about 20%), Golden-tailed Woodpecker (about 20%) and Bearded Woodpecker (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Rufous-necked Wryneck is recorded against all the birds logged in Kruger National Park (9 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
