Dunnock

Prunella modularis (Linnaeus, 1758)

Dunnock, Prunella modularis, breeds across western and south-western parts of the Palearctic, with a further breeding presence in north-west Africa. It is an accentor and one of the family’s most widespread members, unlike most of its relatives, which are tied to upland ground. The bird is a small passerine with a brown back marked by dark streaks, a grey head in adults, and a fine bill. It is also known for frequent wing flicking, a trait that has long set it apart from other small brown birds.

Order

Passeriformes

Family

Prunellidae — Accentors

Breeding range

Palearctic: w, sw, also nw Africa