Dunnocks in Sweden
When the Dunnock (Prunella modularis) is present in Sweden, when it nests, and which native Sweden plants supply the food it depends on.
- Status in Sweden
- Summer visitor
- Nesting season
- May–July
- Size
- 14 cm, 21 g
- Nest box
- Does not use enclosed boxes
When to expect dunnocks in Sweden
The Dunnock arrives in Sweden in spring to breed and leaves again in autumn. Short, intense summers with very long days.
Temperate in the south, boreal across most of the country and subarctic in the far north.
Nesting in Sweden
In Sweden the Dunnock usually nests May–July. Nest site: cup deep in hedges or shrubs. Clutches are 4–5 eggs, incubated for 12–13 days; chicks fledge after 11–12 days, and pairs raise 2–3 per year.
- The Dunnock does not use enclosed nest boxes — dense native shrubs and climbers give it nest sites.
- Avoid cutting hedges during the nesting season (roughly March to August) — in the UK, disturbing an active nest is an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
Native Sweden plants for dunnocks
Of the native plants we track for Sweden, these 8 provide food the Dunnock uses:
Haws feed thrushes all winter; spring blossom supports hundreds of insect species.
Late-winter berries when little else is left, plus dense nesting cover.
Late-summer berries taken by Blackcaps and thrushes.
Thorny cover that protects nests; early blossom for insects.
Berries and nest sites in its tangles; moths for insect-eaters.
Blackberries and impenetrable nesting cover.
Early-summer cherries for Blackbirds and Jays.
Windfalls sustain thrushes and Fieldfares into winter.
Feeding in the garden
Insects and small seeds picked from the ground.
- Best foods: Sunflower hearts, Suet pellets, Crushed peanuts.
- Feeders: Ground tray.
- Shuffles mouse-like under feeders; scatter food near shrub cover.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked
Are dunnocks in Sweden all year?
No. The Dunnock is a summer visitor to Sweden, arriving to breed and leaving in autumn.
When do dunnocks nest in Sweden?
Typically May–July. Clutches are 4–5 eggs, incubated for 12–13 days, with 2–3 per year.
Which native plants help dunnocks in Sweden?
Hawthorn, Ivy, Elder, Blackthorn, Honeysuckle, Bramble, Wild cherry, Crab apple are native to Sweden and provide food or cover the Dunnock uses.
Dunnocks in other countries
Other garden birds in Sweden
Sources
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.