Photo: Åsa Berndtsson / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Dunnock
Prunella modularis
Dunnock (Prunella modularis) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Europe & Northern Asia.
Found across 10 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Dunnock (Prunella modularis) is a member of the Prunellidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 20.2 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Prunellidae Accentors
- Genus Prunella
- Species modularis
Quick facts
- Weight
- 20.2 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Prunellidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Dunnock is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open forest, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Dunnock is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Dunnock (Prunella modularis) is a species of bird in the Prunellidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. It is found across Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL w, sw, also nw Africa.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 20.2 g, with a wing length of about 6.9 cm and a tail of around 6 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 6.8 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Dunnock?
The Dunnock is a small bird that weighs around 20.2 g.
Where does the Dunnock live?
The Dunnock is found across Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL w, sw, also nw Africa, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Dunnock belong to?
The Dunnock (Prunella modularis) belongs to the Prunellidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Dunnock eat?
The Dunnock is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Dunnock migrate?
The Dunnock is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Dunnock endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Dunnock make?
1 real field recording of the Dunnock — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Dunnock's range?
The Dunnock has a mapped global range of about 6.8 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
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