Accentors (Prunellidae)

Dunnock

Prunella modularis

Length
14 cm
Weight
21 g
Clutch
4–5 eggs
Incubation
12–13 days
Fledging
11–12 days
Broods
2–3 per year
Nest box
Does not use enclosed boxes

Identification

  • Grey head and breast
  • Streaked brown back
  • Thin insect-eater's bill — not a sparrow

Hurried, squeaky warble.

Diet and garden feeding

Insects and small seeds picked from the ground.

  • Best foods: Sunflower hearts, Suet pellets, Crushed peanuts.
  • Shuffles mouse-like under feeders; scatter food near shrub cover.

Nesting

Cup deep in hedges or shrubs.

Dunnocks by country

Sources

  1. Dunnock — RSPB bird guide
  2. Dunnock — BTO BirdFacts

Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.