Dunnock (or Hedge Sparrow) of the UK and Ireland
Dunnocks (prunella modularis) are sometimes known as Hedge Sparrows because of their habit of sulking in shrubs, bushes and hedges. They are common and widespread birds in Britain and Ireland with a reputation for being fairly quiet and unassuming. Dunnocks have adapted to living in a wide variety of habitats such as farmland, woodland and moorland. Gardens in towns are popular foraging areas, particularly in the winter.
The population of Dunnocks declined in Britain during the last century but their numbers appear to have stabilised in recent years. Dunnocks are reported as flourishing in the Republic of Ireland.
Dunnocks are shy, solitary birds who spend their time among the branches and foliage of hedges, bramble thickets, bushes, bracken and young trees.
The typical haunts of Dunnocks are gardens in towns, parks, farmland, moorland, conifer plantations, scrubland along the coast and the edges of deciduous woodland. They are a common garden and woodland bird in Britain and Ireland.
The areas they inhabit are also their breeding grounds. Their dull plumage makes them inconspicuous among bushes and hedges.
Gardens provided a vital source of food during the winter as Dunnocks are susceptible to cold winter weather, especially when there is prolonged snowfall.
Dunnocks are resident birds in Britain and Ireland who rarely move more than one kilometre (or 0.62 miles) from where they were hatched. They are a common bird in most areas except for high mountainous regions.
Some wintering Dunnocks from Scandinavia arrive in Britain and Ireland in the autumn.
The Dunnock is classified as of "Least Concern" by IUCN.
Europe holds 95% of the breeding population of Dunnocks. A "moderate decline" in their numbers was reported between 1980 and 2013.
The population of Dunnocks in Britain has fallen by 30% in the last 45 years according to the British Trust for Ornithology. The reason for their decline unknown although cold winter weather may be to blame. The Dunnock is classed as an amber-listed species of bird in Britain because of the long-term decline in their numbers.
The population of Dunnocks declined in Britain between the 1970s and 1980s. They suffered a "moderate decline" in England during this time. There was a slight recovery in their numbers during the 1990s.
Cold winter weather and grazing by increasing numbers of deer may have reduced the breeding and foraging habitats of Dunnocks ( BTO – species ).
The Breeding Bird Survey reported the breeding population of Dunnocks in Britain:
- increased by 22% between 1995 and 2011 (RSPB)
- declined by 4% between 2012/13 ( BBS – page 17)
- increased by 2% between 2013/14 ( BBS – page 13)
- increased by 3% between 2014/15 ( BBS – page 13)
- declined by 1% between 2015/16 ( BBS – page 15)
- declined by 1% between 2016/17 ( BBS – page 15)
- declined by 6% between 2017/18 ( BBS – page 15)
The Dunnock population has stabilised in Britain in recent years.
The RSPB said in 2017 that warmer spring and winter weather appears to have benefited resident species such as the Dunnock, Treecreeper and Wren ( State of the Birds 2017 – page 28).
The Dunnock is a green-listed species of bird in the Republic of Ireland.
The Dunnock population was reported as thriving in 2015 in Ireland and regarded as one of the top-twenty garden birds (Independent).
Some of the more general threats facing Dunnocks in the countryside are changing farm practices with the removal of hedgerows and overuse of insecticides.
For more information on the Dunnock of the UK and Ireland, please visit
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