48 A PRACTICAL HANDBOOK OF BRITISH BIRDS. 



Nestling. — Down absent. Mouth inside flesh, no spots,, 

 externally flanges pale flesh. Has a pad, roughened by papillse, 

 at back of tarsal joint (" heel -pad "). 



Juvenile. — As adults but grey of crown, sides of mantle and 

 rump usually rather paler and bars on under-parts browner, less- 

 dark and not so prominent. At once distinguished from adult 

 by its large 1st primary. 



First winter. — Like adults. The juvenile plumage is com- 

 pletely moulted (including wings and tail) Aug. -Sept. 



Measurements and structure. — <J wing 83-91 mm., tail 61-71, 

 tarsus 19-20, bill from skull 14.5-17 (12 measured). $ wing 83-91. 

 Primaries : 1st minute about half primary -coverts in adults but 

 in juvenile very much longer and broader and about half as long 

 as longest primary, 3rd longest, 2nd sometimes as long but 

 usually 1-3 mm. shorter, 4th 1-2 shorter but occasionally as long, 

 5th 4-6 shorter, 6th 7-10 shorter ; outer webs of 3rd and 4th 

 primaries emarginated. Secondaries shorter than 10th primary, 

 but inner ones as long as 7th primary and innermost considerably 

 shorter, tips rounded. Tail rounded, outermost pair dwarfed 

 and hidden by under tail-coverts, penultimate pair 10 mm. and 

 next pair 5 mm. shorter than rest, 12 feathers, soft and broad, tips 

 rounded. Bill straight, rather slender, broadish at base tapering 

 to sharp point, under mandible sloping upwards beyond the angle. 

 Nostrils slit-like in upper part of nasal groove, lower part being 

 covered by membrane. A few very short rictal bristles and at 

 base of nostrils. Feet slender, 1st and 4th toes directed backwards, 

 2nd and 3rd forwards, 1st and 2nd much shorter and more slender 

 than 3rd and 4th. 



Soft parts. — Bill, legs and feet pale brownish horn-colour ; 

 iris hazel. 



Characters and allied forms. — J. t. tschusii (Italy, Dalmatia, 

 Sardinia) is smaller, darker on upper -parts and much more heavily 

 barred on under-parts ; J. t. mauretanica (Algeria) is similar to 

 last but still smaller and darker ; J. t. japonica (east Siberia, north 

 China, Japan) has more buff under-parts and is slightly smaller 

 than typical form. Blended greys and browns and dark streaks 

 of upper-parts and black-barred buff throat distinguish Wryneck 

 from other British birds. 



Field -characters. -- Mottled and vermiculated grey-brown 

 plumage, which suggests coloration of Nightjar, as well as its 

 skulking and unobtrusive habits would often cause Wryneck to 

 be overlooked on tree-trunks and boughs in its woodland haunts, 

 were it not for its loud and frequent cry, a rapid whistling " quee, 

 quee, quee," similar to call of Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. Alarm- 

 note is a short " tuck," repeated quickly several times under 

 stress of excitement. Although mainly arboreal, obtains much 

 of its insect food on ground, where it progresses with elevated 



