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Dunnock; Acentor Común

Prunella modularis

Photo by arlanda
Published on Project Noah
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43.5469, -7.02244

Field Notes

Description:

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.

Habitat:

Spotted at an area with brambles and prairies close to the sea coast.

Notes:

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

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