IDunnock > Prunella modularis
Description: Approximately 14cm in length. Dull brown above with greyish head and breast and streaked flanks. Often called a hedge sparrow, although technically not a sparrow at all - probably because of its superficial resemblance to female house sparrows, although the Sparrow has a much stouter seed-eater's bill and lacks the greyish colouring of the Dunnock.

Call: Usually calls a thin, high-pitched "tseep-tseep-tseep", but also has quite a melodious song when required.

Feeding habits: Food, consisting mainly of insects, spiders and small seeds, is usually gathered on the ground. Will come to the bird table, but generally prefers to gather scraps that have fallen to the floor below the table.

Nest: A cup of twigs, leaves, and other vegetation, lined with hair and moss. Built by both sexes in a dense bush or hedge.

Habitat and range: Almost anywhere with plenty of cover including heaths, parks and gardens. One of the commonest suburban birds, taking full advantage of the parks and the miles of privet hedges. Resident throughout the UK.

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