Dunnock
Prunella modularis
Also known as: Hedge Accentor, Hedge Sparrow
Habitat
Ground
Diet
Omnivore
Active Time
Diurnal
Size
20 g
About This Species
A shy, sparrow-like bird is often overlooked as it shuffles and creeps low through leaf litter and hedge bases, gleaning small insects and seeds close to the ground. Its thin, high warbling song is delivered from low cover rather than an open perch, and its complex, often polyandrous mating behavior can be observed during spring displays. Gardens, hedgerows, and scrubby woodland edges across its range offer year-round viewing, with breeding activity most visible in spring.
Ethical Viewing Guidelines
- A modest distance of a few metres with quiet, still observation usually suffices, since this species tends to retreat into cover rather than take flight when approached.
- Wild bird protections apply broadly across its European and Asian range, though specific statutes and enforcement differ by country, so confirm local rules rather than assuming uniformity.
- Avoid disturbing hedgerows and low scrub during the spring breeding season, since nests are built close to the ground and easily disrupted.
Seasonal Activity
3,484,448 sightings · 2000–2026
Citizen science records via GBIF
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Aves
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Prunellidae
Traits
- Diet
- Omnivore
- Foraging
- Ground
- Activity
- Diurnal
- Body mass
- 20 g
Photo
(c) Ben Ackerley, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Ben Ackerley
CC-BY-NC-4.0
Occurrence data from GBIF.