Site address
 
(not postal)

Woodcroft Wildspace
 
Downes Court

London 

N21 3PT
 
DUNNOCK
Dunnock (Prunella modularis) a.k.a. Hedge sparrow or Hedge accentor

Dunnocks are small grey and brown birds. Often seen singly, these unobtrusive birds shuffle along the edge of a flower bed or near to a bush, moving with a rather nervous gait, often flicking their wings as they move along.. Fully grown, the dunnock measures 14.5 cm in length and has a wingspan of 19-21 cm. The adult weight is 16-25g.

Dunnocks like to live where the vegetation is dense such as thickets and hedges. It will live in man-made habitats such as gardens, parks, and graveyards. It likes to stay on the ground close to cover. They can be seen at any time of the year.

When two rival males meet they become animated with lots of wing-flicking and loud calling.

Dunnocks eat spiders and insects, worms and seeds.

The song is high and warbling, and the call is an insistent 'seep' sound.

Dunnocks lay 4-6 eggs which hatch in 12-13 days. The young are fledged 11-12 days.

The dunnock's maximum lifespan is 9 years.

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