adult

adult European distribution individual on ground

Identification

In plumage it may seem rather sparrow-like but its old name of Hedge Sparrow was misleading. Its slim build and especially its fine pointed bill prove that this isn't a sparrow at all. Key identification features include rich brown upperparts, neatly streaked with black, bright orange or pinkish legs and, above all, the lead grey colouring of the head and breast.

Habitat

Breeds and winters in gardens, parks, woodland, waste ground and hedges.

Behaviour

Has a remarkably varied and flexible mating system. Sometimes a territory supports just two birds, male and female which co-operate in rearing the young. However, a male with a good quality territory will sometimes attract and mate with two or even three females. More typically though, it is the female who tries to mate with more than one male since any male she has mated with then helps in the feeding of the young. If two males have mated with the same female they may merge their territories and co-operate in defending a 'super-territory'. If lots of 'extra-marital' copulations take place you can have territories in which each female has more than one male but the males have mated with more than one female and are therefore attending two broods simultaneously. In a system with so much 'infidelity' the males have to be careful that they don't end up feeding a brood which is entirely someone else's offspring. This explains why, before mating, the male will peck at the cloaca of the female stimulating a pumping action. If the female has recently mated with another male this pumping will push out the bag of sperms which have just been deposited.

Migration

Mostly resident in Western Europe but populations further north and east are migratory moving as far as the Mediterranean and the Middle East.

This information is taken from the BirdFile on the appropriate BirdGuides DVD-ROM. As well as video and sounds, our CD- and DVD-ROMs contain additional text on Voice, Sexing, Ageing, Food, Nests and Eggs and more.

For the purposes of our bird news services, Dunnock is classed as Common: common species, including species that are certain or probable escapees from captivity when occurring in the British Isles. (Note that rarity levels are currently applied nationally and may not reflect local variations in abundance.)

Minsmere RSPB, Suffolk 06/02/2010	Minsmere RSPB, Suffolk 06/02/2010	Inner Marsh Fm, Cheshire 01/02/2010	Upton Warren, Worcs 01/02/2010	Summer Leys, Northants 31/01/2010
Aqualate Pk, Staffs 29/01/2010	Wood Lane NR, Shrops 22/01/2010	Wood Lane NR, Shrops 17/01/2010	Whisby NP, Lincs 18/01/2010	Beaumaris, Anglesey 23/12/2009

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Dunnock breeds in the following countries (Bird News Extra subscribers will see population statistics and information on trends for each country):

Albania
Andorra
Armenia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Belarus
Belgium
Britain
Bulgaria
Croatia
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Georgia
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Ireland
Italy
Latvia
Lichtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macedonia
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Russia
Serbia and Montenegro
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
Ukraine

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	The Dunnock: More Interesting Than You Think!	Tuesday 26th June 2007
	The Dunnock is one of those birds that can easily go unnoticed within the garden. However, that unobtrusive exterior conceals a less than boring lifestyle. Mike Toms of the BTO sheds light on the rather hectic social life of this familiar garden bird.   read on

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