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Dunnocks are also known as ‘hedge sparrows’ but they’re not sparrows at all – they’re actually the only UK member of the bird family called the Accentors.
Dunnocks are listed as Amber on the UK list of Birds of Conservation Concern. This means there is an increasing concern for the species. However, they currently remain common.
You don’t have to look far to see Dunnocks, as they’re very common garden birds throughout much of the UK (except Shetland).
They’re quite happy living in small gardens, even in cities and suburban areas, but they’re particularly at home in gardens where there are dense shrubs they can nest in, and bird feeders for them to pick up scraps from. You can also see them in woodland and parks, farmland and moorland, except in remote upland areas.
Dunnocks spend most of their time hopping around on the ground in search of spiders and insects. They’re often described as ‘mouse-like’, because of the way they creep about in the undergrowth. Dunnocks are usually alone or in pairs, whereas similar-looking House Sparrows prefer to hang out in groups. Dunnocks will occasionally visit feeders, but you’re more likely to see them picking up spilt food on the ground underneath.
Dunnocks have a loud, squeaky warbling song, that sounds a bit like someone writing on a whiteboard with a creaky pen. They sing from bushes or high in trees, and you’ll mostly hear them in the first half of the year. Their call is a squeaky ‘peep’.
Reflective of their shy, retiring nature, you’re won’t often hear a Dunnock sing – unless they’re in the throes of breeding season, when these little brown birds are committed to attracting multiple mates. Listen out from March to May, where their songs will play an instrumental part in the Dawn Chorus.
Despite being one of our more common birds, Dunnocks are secretive and skulking. They’re nicknamed the Hedge Sparrow (although they aren’t sparrows at all), as they’re often heard singing from shrubs.
You can hear the Dunnock's squeaky and high-pitched trill year-round, even in winter when males are warning others off their patch. You'll also hear their shrill, piping "tiiih" call at this time of year.
For an unassuming little bird, Dunnocks have some surprisingly complicated breeding partnerships. Pairs consisting of one female and one male are unusual. Often one female will openly mate with one male and then secretly mate with another, which encourages both males to care for any chicks. But sometimes, the males will mate with multiple females, and help look after several broods at once. Even more confusingly, there are situations where both males and females end up with multiple partners across multiple territories. But whatever the set-up, they like to build their cup-shaped nests in dense shrubs or bushes, and gardens are often perfect for their needs.
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Have you seen a small, brown bird in your garden and you’re not sure what it is? There are lots of potential contenders, so take a look at these ID tips to help you to work out the identity of your mystery bird.
Brilliant birds, month by month: what to see and where to go.
Dunnocks are rich brown with dark streaking on the back. The head and chest are a blue-grey colour and they have a thin, dark beak.
They are the same size as House Sparrows and can look similar but they prefer to be on their own and feed primarily on the ground.
Dunnocks will feed primarily on insects such as beetles, snails, spiders and worms. They will also eat berries, seed and any spilt grain. They prefer to feed on the ground under shrubs and bushes so are not particularly active at feeders.
The female bird will create a nest made of leaves, grasses and plant stems and then line it with soft materials such as moss. She will build this low to the ground, often within dense shrubs and vegetation.
They nest between April-July and can have 2-3 broods.
Two years on average but the oldest ringed Dunnock on record was 10 years old.
Dunnocks are resident in the UK but some breeding in Northern Europe arrive in the UK during autumn to winter here.
No, they are widespread in the UK and can be found in parks, gardens and woodland.