Dunnock
Prunella modularis
Habitat
The Dunnock is found mainly in central and northern Europe. A small population lives in northern Africa, Turkey and Iran.
This bird species inhabits places with shrubs and hedges, such as forests with dense undergrowth, wooded banks, small-scale agricultural areas, estates, cemeteries, farms, suburban gardens, parks and other habitats with shrubby vegetation.
Appearance
Diet
Primarily, the Dunnock feeds on Arthropods. In winter, this bird species will supplement its diet with seeds.
Breeding
The breeding season of the Dunnock takes place from late April through August. The Dunnock employs several relationship forms. A pair can live monogamous lives, but the male can also have multiple females and vice versa. Therefore, it is also not strange if several males defend the territory and take care of the young. This bird species lays 2 to 3 broods per year.
The female builds the nest which consists of a bowl of twigs, stems, roots, moss and grass. The Dunnock will line the nest with wool, hair and feathers. The nest is placed at a height of 0.50 to 3.50 m in a shrub, hedge or tree.
The female lays 3 to 6 eggs and incubates them in 12 to 13 days. All members of the relationship care for the young for a period of 11 to 13 days. Afterwards, the young will fledge, during which time they will be cared for by the parents for another 14 to 17 days.
How do you help the Dunnock?
Since the Dunnock does not breed in a nest box, you do not need to hang a nest box in the garden for this bird species. However, you can landscape the garden with bushes and hedges with open areas in between. By doing so, you create the habitat after.
In winter, the Dunnock will supplement its diet with seeds. To help with this, you can scatter some seeds under dense shrubs or conifers for the Dunnock to eat.