Dunnock (Prunella modularis)
Description
A rather nondescript, small brown bird which can often be found skulking around the base of trees and bushes, foraging for food. It has a greyish head, neck and breast with brown on the crown and ear coverts. It’s wings and back are a rusty brown with black streaks and it’s underside starts greyish, changing to greyish white with dark streaked, rufous sides. The bill is thin and black and legs are reddish, pink.
On the face of it, this bird appears to be rather unspectacular but it’s seamingly dull appearance masks a particularly interesting personal life! Whilst the male may have one mate, it could equally have two or three. Similarly, the female could mate with multiple males. Before mating, males often stimulate the females with their bill so that they eject any sperm from a previous mating, in an attempt to try to increase their chances of fertilizing the egg.
Flight
Generally low, fast and undulating. Flights don’t tend to last too long as the bird soon dives for cover.
Call
Alarm call is a piercing peep. Song is a gently rising and falling warble.
Habitat
Gardens, parks and woodlands.
Where to find a Dunnock
Occurs throughout the UK and is present all year round.