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Project Noah Nature School
Prunella modularis
The dunnock typically measures 13.5–14 cm in length. It possesses a streaked back, somewhat resembling a small house sparrow. Like that species, the dunnock has a drab appearance in order to avoid predation. It is brownish underneath, and has a fine pointed bill. Adults have a grey head, and both sexes are similarly coloured. It forages on ground, often in or around bushes, close to cover; picks up small insects and seeds. Easily overlooked, it is widely distributed in a great variety of places. Its sharp calls and fast, high-pitched but slightly “flat” song call attention to it. If disturbed, it generally flies at near ground-level into the nearest thick bush.
Spotted at an area with brambles and prairies close to the sea coast.
The generally quite dull and unobtrusive looks of the Dunnock bely its unusual mating habits: it forms one-female-two-male (Polyandry) or even one-male-two-female (Polygynandry) trios when breeding. Polyandry, though, is the most common. Dunnocks take just one-tenth of a second to copulate and can mate more than 100 times a day. Camera Model: NIKON D300. Exposure Time: 1/1000 sec.; f/16; ISO Speed Rating: 800. Exposure Bias: 0 EV. Focal Length: 300.0 mm. No Flash fired
Spotted on Aug 22, 2016
Submitted on Feb 27, 2017
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