OF THE BIRDS MENTIONED 147 
19. WRYNECK 
(Pages 31-33) 
Yunx tirquilla (one of the Scansores. See Cuckoo). 
Syn.: Snake bird, Tongue bird, Cuckoo’s Mate. Few 
have seen this dark brown, red-eyed bird with snake-like 
movements, though many have heard its quick, loud 
and persistent “Pee, pee, pee, pee’ cry in early April 
(probably to attract the female) just before the cuckoo 
sings (hence synonym). It is somewhat larger than 
the sparrow (6 inches), and if you know the plumage 
of a woodcock you will recognize the wryneck, for 
they are much alike. It resembles the bark of dark 
coloured trees so closely as to escape detection. Look 
for it in wooded districts. Its often repeated note 
(see above) will guide you to its whereabouts. It is 
not shy, and generally alone except at nesting time. 
If you can catch one it will hiss at you (Snake bird). 
It is of a greyish ground colour, but variously marked, 
spotted and barred with dark brown, the chest being of 
a lighter colour. The outer feathers of the wings have 
irregular transverse rows of oblong black spots. The 
tail is rather long, blunt, and barred transversely. It 
does not use the tail to climb with, like the woodpecker, 
but nevertheless easily ascends trunks of trees and 
creeps along over and round boughs in short jerky 
creeps, expanding the wings slightly at times, and 
