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Dunnock
(Prunella modularis)
: "Hedge Accentor"; misnomers: "Hedge Sparrow", "Hedge Warbler"
German name(s): "Heckenbraunelle"
Size: 13-14.5 cm
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Similar species |
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Physical description |
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Click here for a physical description
Dunnocks are small birds roughly the size of a
sparrow or bunting.
Their plumage is
highly cryptic.
Apart from the ear coverts, the head and upper chest are
leaden-grey. Ear coverts, back and wings are brown to dark
grey-brown,
with heavy sooty-black streaking. The flanks are more lightly
streaked a darker shade of grey-brown than the base colour.
The irises are brown. The bill is dark grey-brown, while
legs and feet are brown.
Note that, while details are described above indicating heavy
striation, the Dunnock's jizz is that of a very shy, uniformly
dark-coloured bird that dives for cover at the first
sign of a disturbance. Although abundant, it can be difficult
to see.
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Taxonomy, classification |
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See Dunnock
at Wikipedia .
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Range, habitat, finding this species |
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Click here for information on habitat
and range
The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and
specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found,
based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to
ebird.org
.
The global distribution of the Dunnock is available
HERE
.
There are 8 extant races of Dunnocks. They are a partly migratory
species that is found as
a permanent resident mostly in western, central and south-eastern
Europe, but also in northern Asia Minor and around the Caucasus
mountain range. In the rest of Mediterranean Europe, Asia Minor
and around the Black Sea and the southern Caspian Sea they are
winter visitors, while in the Alps, eastern Europe and Scandinavia
they are summer migrants. Their range extends from the British
Isles in the West to the Ural mountain range in the East.
Apart from Europe they are found only in Asia Minor and parts
of the Middle East (Lebanon, Israel, Palestine, parts of Syria
and down the Euphrates/Tigris river system to Kuwait).
Dunnocks were also introduced to New Zealand, where now they
are widespread.
In Europe, 6 races of Dunnocks are found. Amongst these are race
"modularis",
which populates northern and central Europe, race
"mabbotti"
in Iberia, southern/central France and Italy, and race
"meinertzhageni" in the Balkans.
Dunnocks have a preference for young, dense growth, be it
in the form of shrubs, hedges or dense growth in woodland,
heath, the fringes of agricultural land, parks, gardens or
plantations.
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Sightings |
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Click here for sighting information
Race "modularis"
M. Thomas reports finding Dunnocks, nominate race
"modularis",
semi-regularly during the winter months in a garden in Eltville, Hessen,
Germany.
Race "occidentalis"
M. Eaton reports finding a Dunnock, race
"occidentalis",
at Land's End and near Wadebridge, Cornwall, England, in September 2019.
Race "mabbotti"
J. Pires reports spotting a Dunnock, race
"mabbotti",
in Mora, Evora, Portugal, in March 2016. Another was found in
Esmoriz, Ovar, Aveiro, Portugal, in November 2021.
G. Normand found a Dunnock, race
"mabbotti",
in the Pyrenees, France, in May 2019.
Race "meinertzhageni"
A Dunnock, race "meinertzhageni",
was caught, ringed and photographed by S. Cuturilov in Ovcarsko-Kablarski
Canyon, near Cacak, Serbia, in October 2017. Another underwent the
same procedure at Vlasina Lake, Serbia, in October 2019.
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Photos |
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Race "modularis"
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ADULT |
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Note how the colouring of the birds shown below appears
to be different. We do not know yet whether this is due either
to varying light conditions or to intrinsic differences.
Near-frontal view of a Dunnock (photo courtesy of M. Thomas)
[Eltville, Hessen, Germany, February 2018]
Near-lateral view of a Dunnock (photo courtesy of M. Thomas)
[Eltville, Hessen, Germany, March 2018]
Lateral view of a Dunnock foraging in a garden (photo courtesy of M. Thomas)
[Eltville, Hessen, Germany, February 2018]
Lateral view of a Dunnock (photo courtesy of M. Thomas)
[Eltville, Hessen, Germany, January 2019]
Lateral view of a Dunnock (photo courtesy of M. Thomas)
[Eltville, Hessen, Germany, January 2019]
Lateral view of a Dunnock (photo courtesy of M. Thomas)
[Eltville, Hessen, Germany, January 2019]
Lateral view of a Dunnock issuing its call (photo courtesy of M. Thomas)
[Eltville, Hessen, Germany, January 2019]
Near-dorsal view of a Dunnock (photo courtesy of M. Thomas)
[Eltville, Hessen, Germany, January 2019]
Comparison between a Dunnock, left, and an
Eurasian Wren, right
(photo courtesy of M. Thomas)
[Eltville, Hessen, Germany, January 2019]
Race "occidentalis"
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ADULT |
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Frontal view of a Dunnock
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Land's End, Cornwall, England, September 2019]
Near-lateral view of a Dunnock
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Near Wadebridge, Cornwall, England, September 2019]
Lateral view of a Dunnock looking at the observer
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Near Wadebridge, Cornwall, England, September 2019]
Race "mabbotti"
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ADULT |
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Near-frontal view of a Dunnock sitting on a high perch
(photo courtesy of G. Normand)
[Pyrenees, France, May 2019]
Lateral view of a Dunnock
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, March 2016]
Near-dorsal view of a Dunnock
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, March 2016]
Dorsal view of a Dunnock
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Esmoriz, Ovar, Aveiro, Portugal, November 2021]
Race "meinertzhageni"
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ADULT |
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Close-up lateral view of a Dunnock (photo courtesy of S. Cuturilov)
[Vlasina Lake, Serbia, October 2019]
Look onto the back of a Dunnock (photo courtesy of S. Cuturilov)
[Ovcarsko-Kablarski Canyon, near Cacak, Serbia, October 2017]
These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our
contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species
please refer to a field guide.