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Dunnock Prunella modularis [Linnaeus, 1758]
Other Names
Trends & Distribution
Breeding & Survival
Biometrics
Books & Links
Order:
Passeriformes
Family:
Prunellidae
BTO Codes:
D., DUNNO
EURING No:
10840
Number in Britain:
2.1 million territories (Summer)
Conservation Status:
UK:
AMBER
European:
Not a species of concern
Global:
Least Concern
Links to: Images
Videos
Sound
Status in UK:
(A) Resident Breeder, Passage/Winter Visitor
Subspecies:
hebridium occidentalis modularis (W) recorded in Britain (of 8 subsp. in the world)
.
Length:
14 cm
Wingspan:
20 cm
Weight:
M/F: 21 g
Scientific name from:
Diminutive of L.: prunus =brown
and L.: modulari =to sing
World Distribution:
Europe & Near East
Habitat:
Scrub, undergrowth, towns
Diet:
Mostly insects, in winter also seeds, mostly near ground in cover
TitBit:
This unobtrusive little brown bird doesn't form pairs (like most birds), but breeds in groups of up to three males and three females, with two males and a female being the most common.
Population and Distribution
Population Trend:
Regional Trends:
Distribution:
New Atlas )
British Population Size:
Summer:
2.1 million territories
in 2000
First Record:
8th Century
[Fossil evidence from
Devensian (last) glaciation, 10-120,000 yr ago]
Conservation Status:
AMBER
because
Recent Breeding Population Decline (1969-2007),
Previous Assessments:
2002-2007
AMBER
1996-2001
AMBER
Races of Concern:
hebridium AMBER (Important Population) , occidentalis AMBER (Recent Decline) , modularis GREEN
Habitat Occupancy (in the Breeding Season):
Most frequent in:
Villages
Also common in:
Scrub, Arable Farmland, Pasture Farmland, Towns
And found in:
Deciduous Wood
Relative Frequency in Each Habitat:
European Population Size:
Summer:
10.5 to 23 million pairs
(Trend in Numbers )
Birds in Europe
Listed on the Appendices/Schedules of:
WCA(III), Bern(III)
Survey Results:
Breeding and Survival
Egg Size:
19 x 15 mm
Egg Weight:
2.1 g (of which 6 % is shell)
Number of Nest Records:
324
Clutch Size:
4 - 5 eggs
4.06 ± 0.75 (2 - 6) N = 3487
Incubation:
14- 15 days
14.10 ± 2.08 (10.5 - 18.5) N = 3485
by the:
Female
Fledging:
12 - 15days
13.18 ± 1.70 (10 - 16) N = 3509
as:
Altricial, downy
Source:
British Trust for Ornithology (2005) Nest Record Scheme data
First Clutches Laid:
27 Apr (1 Apr - 15 Jun)
Number of Broods:
2(3)
Trends in Breeding Productivity
Number Ringed:
14779
Adult Survival:
0.473
± 0.012
Juvenile Survival:
0.347 (in First-Year)
Age at First Breeding:
1
year
Typical Lifespan:
2
years
Maximum Recorded Age:
11yr 3m
Biometrics
Ring Size:
A (pulli B)
Wing Length
Adult:
69.9 ± 2.1
Range
67 - 73 mm, N =24215
Juvenile:
69.4 ± 2.0
66 - 72 mm, N =23776
Male:
70.7 ± 1.9
68 - 74 mm, N =6571
Female:
68.8 ± 1.9
66 - 72 mm, N =3114
Weight
Adult:
21.17 ± 3.08
Range
18.60 - 24.00 g , N =19587
Juvenile:
20.54 ± 2.08
18.10 - 23.20 g , N =19030
Male:
20.86 ± 3.22
18.70 - 23.10 g , N =5345
Female:
20.88 ± 1.96 .
18.10 - 24.50 g , N =2513
Source:
British Trust for Ornithology (2005) Ringing Scheme data
Other Names
Hedge Accentor/Sparrow
Gaelic:
Gealbhonn-gàraidh
Welsh:
Llwyd y Gwrych
Danish:
Jernspurv
Dutch:
Heggemus
Finnish:
Rautiainen
French:
Accenteur mouchet
German:
Heckenbraunelle
Hungarian:
Erdei szürkebegy
Icelandic:
Runnatítla
Irish:
Donnóg
Italian:
Passera scropaiola
Norwegian:
Jernspurv
Polish:
Pokrzywnica
Portuguese:
Ferreirinha-comum
Spanish:
Acentor común
Swedish:
Järnsparv
Local Names: Scrubber, Shufflewing, Creepie
For More Information...
Books and Monographs:
Davies, N.B. 1992 Dunnock behaviour and social evolution Oxford University Press, Oxford
[598.874 DAV]
Davies, N.B. 1987 Studies of West Palearctic birds: Dunnock British Birds 80:604-624
See Also:
BirdFacts home | BTO Home birdfacts@bto.org These data should be cited as:
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