Dunnock

Dunnock, Prunella modularis is a species of accentor in the Prunellidae family. It is a slim, streaked bird that feeds unobtrusively on the ground; flitting up to a perch, to utter its quiet, repeated single note. It is mostly found in Europe and parts of the Middle East. It was introduced to New Zealand.

Other names
Hedge Sparrow, Dunnock Accentor, European Dunnock, Hedge Accentor, Hedgesparrow, Hedge-Sparrow.

Behaviour
Rather shy and retiring in summer. Flight jerky, light and springy.

Diet
Insects in the summer, seeds in the winter.

Reproduction
Its nest made of grass and moss, lined with finer fibre, placed in a hedge or bush.

Males are promiscuous and will mate with several females, unaware that the females are acting in a similar fashion, mating with a number of males.

Males try to ensure their paternity during courtship by pecking at the cloaca of the female to stimulate her to eject the sperm of other males with whom the female has recently mated. Dunnocks take just one-tenth of a second to copulate, and have sex more than 100 times a day. This was shown in an episode of The Life of Birds.