Often overlooked as a "little brown job" and frequently misidentified as a sparrow, the Dunnock (Prunella modularis) is one of the most interesting and underrated visitors to our gardens. Also known as the Hedge Accentor or Hedge Sparrow, this quiet and unassuming bird has a fascinatingly complex social life that would rival any soap opera. Once you know what to look for, you'll appreciate the Dunnock for the subtle, charming, and unique bird that it is.
By the Les-Oiseaux.com team, published on July 30, 2025
My personal advice: To really get to know the Dunnock, stop looking for it and start listening. Find a spot in your garden with dense shrubs or a thick hedge and just wait. You'll soon hear its song – a short, surprisingly fast, and high-pitched warble. It's not loud, but it's delivered with surprising energy.
Then, watch the base of those shrubs. You won't see it perching boldly like a robin. Instead, you'll see a mouse-like shuffle as it forages on the ground. If you see two together, watch for their frantic wing-flicking displays; this is a key part of their dramatic social interactions. It's a bird that rewards patient observation.
The Dunnock is a small, slim bird, about the size of a Robin. Its plumage is a subtle blend of streaky brown on the back and wings, with a contrasting plain grey head, throat, and breast. It has dull brown legs and, most importantly, a thin, pointed, dark bill perfect for picking insects. Its movements are typically low to the ground, with a shuffling or creeping gait rather than a confident hop.
The Dunnock's song is a fast, hurried, and somewhat squeaky warble that lasts for a few seconds before being repeated. It's often delivered from the cover of a bush or the top of a hedge.
Behaviourally, Dunnocks are renowned for their variable mating system. While some pairs are monogamous, many territories are home to complex arrangements where a single female may mate with multiple males (polyandry), or a single male with multiple females (polygyny). This leads to frequent and energetic disputes, often involving frantic wing-flicking and chasing.
Never confuse them again! Here is a simple table to distinguish the Dunnock from the House Sparrow.
| Feature | Dunnock | House Sparrow (male) |
|---|---|---|
| Bill | Fine, pointed, dark (insectivore) | Thick, conical, grayish-black (seed-eater) |
| Head and Chest | Uniform slate-gray | Gray cap, white cheeks, black bib |
| Ground Behavior | Shuffles, creeps, quiet demeanor | Hops with feet together, often in noisy groups |
| Silhouette | Finer and more slender | Rounder and stockier |
The Dunnock is widespread across Europe and into Asia. It is primarily a resident bird in the UK and Western Europe, with populations in colder northern and eastern regions migrating south for the winter. It thrives in habitats with dense, low cover, making it a perfect garden bird. It's also found in parks, scrubland, and woodland edges. The nest, a neat cup of twigs and moss, is always well hidden inside a dense hedge or shrub.
The map below shows the Dunnock's range. It is resident year-round in much of Western Europe (purple) and visits its more northerly and easterly breeding grounds (orange) for the summer.
The Dunnock is currently on the Green List of conservation concern in the UK, meaning its population is considered stable. However, like many garden birds, it can be affected by harsh winters and changes in garden management practices, such as the removal of dense hedges and shrubs that it relies on for nesting and cover. Maintaining some "untidy" areas in a garden is highly beneficial for this species.
No, despite being called the 'Hedge Sparrow', the Dunnock is not a sparrow at all. It belongs to the accentor family. The easiest way to tell is by the bill: the Dunnock has a fine, pointed, insect-eater's bill, whereas sparrows have thick, conical, seed-eater's bills.
Dunnocks are famous in the bird world for their incredibly varied and complex mating systems. While some form classic monogamous pairs, many others engage in polygamy (one male, multiple females), polyandry (one female, multiple males), and even polygynandry (groups of males and females all mating with each other). This leads to fascinating dramas in the shrubbery over territory and parenting duties.
Their primary diet consists of small insects, spiders, and worms, which they find while foraging on the ground. Their thin bill is perfectly adapted for this. In winter, they will also take small seeds and will visit bird tables for crumbs and other scraps, especially if the ground is frozen.