Dunnock

The dunnock, also known as the hedge accentor, hedge sparrow, or hedge warbler, is a small bird commonly found across the temperate regions of Europe and extending into Asian Russia. It is the most widespread member of the accentor family. First described by Carl Linnaeus in 1758, the dunnock belongs to the genus Prunella and has eight recognized subspecies.

In terms of appearance, the dunnock is about the size of a European robin. It has a streaked back and generally drab plumage, but compensates for this with a distinctive shrill call and a melodious, warbling song. Dunnocks are native to large parts of Eurasia and have also been successfully introduced to New Zealand. They thrive in habitats such as woodlands, shrubs, gardens, and hedgerows.

Dunnocks are quite territorial and often engage in conflicts with other birds. They have complex mating systems, including polyandry (one female with multiple males), polygyny (one male with multiple females), and polygynandry (several males with several females). Male dunnocks' involvement in parental care is contingent on their mating success. They usually build tidy nests in bushes or conifers and lay blue eggs. The level of care and feeding provided to the young varies depending on the mating system and social dynamics within the group.