Hedge accentor, Hedge sparrow, Hedge warbler
The dunnock (Prunella modularis) is a small passerine, or perching bird. It is the most widespread member of the accentor family.
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DiurnalDiurnal animals are active during the daytime, with a period of sleeping or other inactivity at night. The timing of activity by an animal depends ...
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CarnivoreA carnivore meaning 'meat eater' is an organism that derives its energy and nutrient requirements from a diet consisting mainly or exclusively of a...
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InsectivoresAn insectivore is a carnivorous plant or animal that eats insects. An alternative term is entomophage, which also refers to the human practice of e...
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HerbivoreA herbivore is an animal anatomically and physiologically adapted to eating plant material, for example, foliage, for the main component of its die...
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GranivoreSeed predation, often referred to as granivory, is a type of plant-animal interaction in which granivores (seed predators) feed on the seeds of pla...
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ArborealArboreal locomotion is the locomotion of animals in trees. In habitats in which trees are present, animals have evolved to move in them. Some anima...
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TerrestrialTerrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land (e.g., cats, ants, snails), as compared with aquatic animals, which liv...
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AltricialAltricial animals are those species whose newly hatched or born young are relatively immobile. They lack hair or down, are not able to obtain food ...
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OviparousOviparous animals are female animals that lay their eggs, with little or no other embryonic development within the mother. This is the reproductive...
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TerritorialA territory is a sociographical area that which an animal consistently defends against the conspecific competition (or, occasionally, against anima...
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PolyandryPolygyny is a mating system in which one female lives and mates with multiple males but each male only mates with a single female.
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MonogamyMonogamy is a form of relationship in which both the male and the female has only one partner. This pair may cohabitate in an area or territory for...
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PolygynyPolygyny is a mating system in which one male lives and mates with multiple females but each female only mates with a single male.
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PolygynandryPolygynandry is a mating system in which both males and females have multiple mating partners during a breeding season.
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Generally solitaryGenerally solitary animals are those animals that spend their time separately but will gather at foraging areas or sleep in the same location or sh...
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Dominance hierarchyA dominance hierarchy (formerly and colloquially called a pecking order) is a type of social hierarchy that arises when members of animal social gr...
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Partial MigrantPartial migration is when within a migratory species or even within a single population, some individuals migrate while others do not.
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starts withThe dunnock has a drab appearance which may have evolved to avoid predation. It is brownish underneath and has a fine-pointed bill. Adults have a grey head, and both sexes are similarly colored. Unlike any similar-sized small brown bird, dunnocks frequently flick with their wings, especially during territorial disputes or when competing for mating rights. This gives rise to one of their common names, "shufflewing".
Dunnocks are native to large areas of Eurasia, inhabiting much of Europe including Lebanon, northern Iran, and the Caucasus. They are partially migratory; some populations are resident while birds in northern and eastern parts of the range are migratory. Dunnocks favor habitats that include forests, woodlands, shrubs, gardens, parks, and hedgerows.
Dunnocks are active during the day typically feeding on the ground. They are usually seen alone, but sometimes, may join foraging flocks. Dunnocks are territorial, especially during the breeding season, and may engage in conflict with other birds that encroach upon their nests. Males sometimes share a territory and exhibit a strict dominance hierarchy; older birds tend to be the dominant males and first-year birds are usually sub-dominant. Female territorial ranges are almost always exclusive. However, sometimes, multiple males may cooperate to defend a single territory containing multiple females. The main call of dunnocks is a shrill, persistent 'tseep' along with a high trilling note, which betrays the bird's otherwise inconspicuous presence. The song is rapid, thin, and tinkling, a sweet warble that can be confused with that of the Eurasian wren but is shorter and weaker.
Dunnocks are carnivores (insectivores) and herbivores (granivores). They feed mainly on seeds, small insects, and their larvae, spiders, worms, and small caterpillars.
Dunnocks have variable mating systems. Females are often polyandrous, breeding with two or more males at once, which is quite rare among birds. Other mating systems also exist, depending on the ratio of male to females and the overlap of territories. When only one female and one male territory overlap, birds will form monogamous pairs. Sometimes, two or three adjacent female territories overlap one male territory, and so polygyny is favored, with the male monopolizing several females. Polygynandry also exists, in which two males jointly defend a territory containing several females. Polyandry, though, is the most common mating system of dunnocks found in nature. Dunnocks typically breed between March and July, however, in Russia, their breeding season occurs from May to August. These birds prefer to build their nests low in a bush or conifer. The nest is made from twigs and moss and lined with soft materials such as wool or feathers. The female lays 3 to 5 unspotted blue eggs and incubates them for about 12-13 days. The chicks hatch partially covered with blackish down and remain in the nest for about 12 days. Broods, depending on the population, can be raised by a lone female, multiple females with the part-time help of a male, multiple females with full-time help from a male, or by multiple females and multiple males. In pairs, males and females usually invest parental care at similar rates.
There are no major threats to the dunnock at present.
According to the IUCN Red List, the total population size of the dunnock is 25,000,000-43,999,999 mature individuals. In Europe, the breeding population consists of 12,700,000-21,800,000 pairs, which equates to 25,400,000-43,500,000 mature individuals. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List but its numbers today are decreasing.