On 26th January, I celebrated the Republic Day with birds. I was out early that morning to the Sunrise point and the valley beyond. I decided to explore the overgrown fields, surrounded by shrubs and trees, away from the path. I could see this area was not much disturbed and there was good ankle-high growth of dense grass clumps on what used to be earlier barren, exposed gravelly soil.
Just as I approached a clearing, I noticed a dull-coloured, bulbul-sized bird take off from the ground where it had been foraging and perched on the trunk of the Cassia fistula plant, not yet a big tree. Even before I got a clear of the bird, I could guess its identity as the WRYNECK (Jynx torquilla). This is a rare winter visitor to southern India and I had seen it just once earlier almost at the same place on 26th March, 2013. Related to the woodpeckers, the wryneck is a distinct bird, unmistakable in its appearance. Its upper parts were greyish-brown with barrings and mottlings of dark, cream and rufous shades. The underparts were paler with dark wavy lines. There was a dark line through the eyes and the tail too had whitish bands. The beak, unlike the woodpeckers was shorter but pointed.
The bird seemed quite restless, kept turning and twisting its neck and within a couple of minutes took off and disappeared in the adjacent row of shrubs. I slowly tracked it and saw it foraging on the ground. Over the next forty minutes the bird and I were playing hide-and-seek, which was quite demanding since there were quite a few similar-sized birds (bulbuls) flying about, the bird was very silent and with its inconspicuous colours, it just merged with the surroundings. However, with patience and luck. I spotted it every time. Once it sat deep inside a shrub, preening itself. Another occasion, it was seen chasing away an Indian Robin that ventured close to it as it hopped on the ground, looking for ants, which seems to be its favourite food. I managed to get a few record photographs but the bird was too quick and restless.
On my earlier encounter in 2013, I had seen the bird much closer and it was much more confiding, allowing me to approach it as close as 2-3 metres, providing excellent views. Unfortunately I had not carried my camera that day. Today the bird was rather skittish and perhaps also hungry after a cold night.
Its Generic name “JYNX” is derived from the ancient greek word “IUNX”. The specific name “torquilla”, refers to its ability to twist its neck almost 180 degrees. When threatened at its nest by predators (including humans), this bird is reputed to hiss like a snake and contort its neck and sway from side to side. This habit earned it an ill-reputation among early Europeans who used the bird in casting a spell (or Jinx) and in witchcraft.
Through persistence and patience, I managed to ward off the jinx and see the bird twice in Rishi Valley!
Dr Santharam
