The Dunnock
Distribution Europe & Near East. When working in Norway flocks of Dunnocks travelled south from the Arctic Circle in large numbers, some would travel to over-winter in England.
Typical habitat(s) that the species is found in scrub, undergrowth, towns.
Typical food items, this will vary depending on availability; insects, in winter also seeds, mostly near ground in cover
Derivation of the components of the scientific name, mostly from Greek (Gr.) and Latin (L.)Scientific name from L.: prunus=brown and L.: modulari=to sing
An interesting, unusual or curious fact about the bird, or its relationships. This unobtrusive little brown bird doesn’t form pairs (like most birds), but breeds in groups of up to three males and three females, with two males and a female being the most common.
The Dunnock is also known as the ‘hedge sparrow’ even though it’s not actually a sparrow, but a member of a small family of birds called accentors. It is a small bird, about the size of a robin, which is common in gardens, parks, hedgerows, scrub and along woodland edges. Dunnocks are shy birds, hopping about in low vegetation and around the edge of lawns, feeding on small insects, worms and seeds, frequenting below garden bird tables. When two males meet, however, they become animated with territorial calling and wing-flicking. Males and females will form strong pairs, but the female will still mate with another male, so neither male knows who the father is and both supply her chicks with food. They nest in hedges or shrubs, laying up to five eggs.
Maximum Age from Ringing is 10 years 7 months 23 days (set in 2012), but the average age is 2 years with breeding typically at 1 year
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