Listen to the call of the dunnock to help you identify this common garden bird during your birdwatch. Interestingly, vocalisations related to sexual selection may not be limited to the males, as a study from the University of Cambridge in 1996 indicated increased vocalisation amongst females when competing strongly for males. Discover more about this humble, but fascinating, garden bird in our expert guide by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO). It's often likened to a 'squeaky wheelbarrow' or gate. In spring, you may hear groups of sparrows all calling at once from deep within bushes or hedgerows making quite a noise! [18], The male's ability to access females generally depends on female range size, which is affected by the distribution of food. [16][17] Furthermore, members of a group are rarely related, and so competition can result. BN5 9SD, © Sussex Wildlife Trust | Registered charity number 207005 | Registered in England, company no.698851. The males have a surprising range of song and are renowned for copying the songs of their Dunnock neighbours, incorporating them into their own. It may not be the very first to join the daily chorus, perhaps delayed by its proclivity for 'nocturnal activities.' Need to register? Tweet of the Day is a series of fascinating stories about our British birds inspired by their calls and songs. Read about our approach to external linking. to place a review. The alarm call (sometimes used also for contact) is a loud and sharp "teeeh". The population of the Dunnock has actually declined in recent years, particularly during the last part of the twentieth century, and it's currently an 'Amber-listed' bird of conservation concern. Though it may not be the richest to human ears, it's certainly a complex system of communication, in much the same vein as the mating habits. (284), Birds of Europe song. When only one female and one male territory overlap, monogamy is preferred. Polyandry, though, is the most common mating system of dunnocks found in nature. The Dunnock's song is a pleasant surprise also; an unhurried sweet warble which can be confused with the Wren or Robin, but lacks the Wren's intensity and the Robin's sweetness. One of a series of bird-call audio resources from the January 2008 issue of Nursery Education PLUS. Call/Song. The dunnock's repertoire is quite wide. Next up, the Dunnock, an overwhelmingly inconspicuous bird that in fact very much belies its meek and modest nature.

It certainly has a pure quality, and may either be uttered as an individual note or as a shorter but more insistent ringing sequence, where it serves as the alarm.