Dunnock
ExploreBirds
Dunnock
Prunella modularis
The Dunnock is a small, brown bird that loves to hop around gardens and parks. It has a sweet song and often forages for insects and seeds on the ground.
Habitat: Urban areas
Appearance
The Dunnock is a small, shy brown bird, often mistaken for a House Sparrow, but it has a sleek grey head and breast, with streaky brown plumage on its back and wings. Its slender bill and orange-brown legs further distinguish it.
KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassAvesOrderPasseriformesFamilyPrunellidaeGenusPrunella
Category
BirdsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Dunnock parents often feed cuckoo chicks even though they're huge!
Female dunnocks can lay up to three clutches of eggs in one year!
Their song is a surprisingly high-pitched, warbling trill.
They are also called 'Hedge Accentors' because they love hedges!
Special abilities
Ability
Love Triangle Master
Dunnocks can have complex breeding arrangements with multiple partners, which helps them raise more chicks successfully.
Ability
Hidden Helper
Its streaky brown and grey feathers provide excellent camouflage, allowing the Dunnock to disappear into hedges and bushes from predators.
Ability
Undergrowth Navigator
Dunnocks have a streamlined body shape that helps them move quietly and efficiently through thick bushes and tangled plants to find food.
Measurements & details
- Length
- 13-14.5 cm
- Wingspan
- 19-21 cm
- Weight
- 0.019-0.021 kg
- Lifespan
- 2-9 years
- Top Speed
- 35 km/h
- Clutch Size
- 3-6
- Incubation
- 11-12 days
Diet & Feeding
Dunnocks are omnivores that enjoy both tiny insects and tasty seeds.
Age differences: Young chicks primarily eat insects, shifting to a broader omnivorous diet as adults.
Primary Foods
- insects
- spiders
- beetles
- seeds
- berries
Foraging Method
- Foraging
Ecological connections
eaten by
Eurasian Sparrowhawk
Accipiter nisus
A key predator of small garden birds like the Dunnock.
parasitizes
Common Cuckoo
Cuculus canorus
Lays its eggs in Dunnock nests for them to raise.
eats
Common Earthworm
Lumbricus terrestris
Dunnocks forage on the ground for these and other invertebrates.
shelters
Hawthorn
Crataegus monogyna
Provides dense cover for nesting and hiding from predators.
Traits
Feathered
Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers.
Social
Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring.
Singing
Singing animals produce complex vocalizations, often for purposes of attracting mates, defending territory, or communicating within their species.
Insectivorous
This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates.
Diurnal
Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night.
Urban Friendly
This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Enjoy watching birds from a distance, and don't try to catch them.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is Dunnock?
13-14.5 cm
What is Dunnock's wingspan?
19-21 cm
How much does Dunnock weigh?
0.019-0.021 kg
How long does Dunnock live?
2-9 years
How fast can Dunnock move?
35 km/h
What does Dunnock eat?
Dunnocks are omnivores that enjoy both tiny insects and tasty seeds.
Where is Dunnock usually found?
Urban areas
How does Dunnock hunt?
Foraging
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