Collection: Dunnock

Being mainly brown with a black-streaked back and underside, this small bird is both quiet and unobtrusive. It can be mainly found on its own, hopping along the edges of a flower bed or bush and although not as melodic as the Robin it can be heard even on the dullest days in late autumn and winter when all the other birds are quiet.

They nest in hedges and shrubs and produce up to 5 eggs. They can also produce up to 3 clutches in a season the first one being in March or April.

Although an insect eaters, they will consume smaller seeds as well. The numbers of Dunnocks had declined by over 50% over the years, however, recent BTO figures show that there has been a slow incline in their numbers In Britain, the dunnock can be seen almost anywhere in the lowlands, in gardens, parks and in woodlands. The Dunnock is on the RSPB's Amber List: “Species with unfavourable conservation status in Europe.”

It prefers habitats with some areas of cover as it is rather shy in behaviour. In other parts of Europe, dunnocks are found also in spruce woods and upland forests.