Wryneck

a climbing bird allied to the woodpeckers. It takes its name from the peculiar manner in which it customarily twists the neck and turns the head or eye. There are several species. The common wryneck of Europe has toes like those of the woodpecker, two pointing forward and two pointing backward. The bill is straight and hard, suitable for rapping on the bark of trees. The tongue is long, and is capable of being extended to snap up insects. The wryneck nests in Northern Europe and migrates to southern climes for the winter. In England it goes by a number of common names, as cuckoo's fool, long-tongue, emmet hunter, cuckoo's messenger, and the like. Although a climber and in other respects quite like the woodpecker the wryneck does not use its tail as a prop.