Swarovski 80HD Nikon CP995

Adult	Behaviour

Dunnock

Prunella modularis 14.5cm

Once commonly known in Britain as the Hedge Sparrow, the Dunnock is actually from a completely different family and is in fact an Accentor.

Dunnocks are regular visitors to garden feeding stations, where they may easily be overlooked, as they will often restrict their foraging to the ground below bird tables and seed feeders.

The featured bird here is perching on a wire mesh surrounding a bird table at Belvide Reservoir, the mesh having been put in place to prevent large birds and predators disturbing the smaller passerines that the table is intended for.

The behaviour shot is also featured on the Cuckoo page and shows an unfortunate Dunnock feeding a juvenile female Cuckoo.