Dunnock Nesting: A Complete Guide

Dunnock (Prunella vulgaris) is a quiet and unobtrusive bird that you’ll see crawling across flower beds and sitting on fences in search of food. These birds are often seen alone and only actually encounter other blackbirds during the nesting season. This is great news for us as we are studying the nesting habits of the dunnocks below. So, gather your dunnocks and let’s find out everything there is to know about how this bird builds its nest, shall we?

Dunnock’s nest is low to the ground. While they do spend some time in the trees, they like to be close to the ground so they are close to food. Therefore, they also nest close to the ground. Dunnocks typically nest in hedges, low places in woodland, and sometimes in your back garden if you have hedges and shrubs.

Dunnocks are common in the UK as they are free to nest in the lowlands and many of us will enjoy dunnocks in our gardens. And, as we’ll see, dunnocks also have some interesting nesting habits to be aware of.

Dunnocks build their nests out of moss and twigs and line them with soft moss and hair. Like many birds, nest building is the job of the female darkbird. She will choose to nest in a dense hedge or bush, and she has no problem if this is in our garden or natural woodland.

Dunnock’s nest with two blue eggs inside

Where do dunnocks nest?

Dunnocks will nest in hedges and bushes in woodlands, hedges and even gardens. They prefer to nest in low ground, but will choose dense areas to nest so they won’t be seen.

One of the reasons they are so popular in this country is because they often nest in gardens, which gives us a glimpse into their nesting habits.

Dunnocks in England won’t go very far. So, the ones in our garden could have been born miles away. So a baby in a nest in your fence may stay close to your garden all their lives. Dunnocks in cooler regions of Europe do travel great distances, though.

Dunnocks were successfully introduced to New Zealand in the 19th century and have since established strong numbers throughout the country and offshore islands.

So, if you see more dunnocks than usual in your garden during winter, your local dunnocks may have European friends over for a month’s holiday.

A pair of wallabies on the ground eating seeds

When do dunnocks nest?

Dunnocks start nesting in March and will nest until July. This gives the birds time to brood up to three broods in one year. A typical dunnock clutch is 3-6 eggs, with 4 to 5 being the most common.

So that kangaroo you’ve been seeing in your garden during March and July may have as many as 15 tiny beaks to feed!

If the bird starts looking a little tired, you know why!

How long do dunnocks nest?

Dunnocks nest between March and July so take 3-4 months depending on how long it takes to nest in early March. It sounds like the birds take a long time to build their nests, but that’s because they are very busy during this time.

During this period, three litters can be produced, with 4-5 eggs each time. Therefore, dunnocks are very active when nesting. During this time, you’ll often see dunnocks gathering food for their babies, their eyes looking very tired!

dunnok sings from the top of the bush

How do dunnocks build their nests?

Dunnocks build their nests out of twigs and moss. They weave the branches together to form a sturdy cup-like structure large enough to hold about 5 eggs. Then they line the cups with moss and hair to keep the eggs safe.

They will use the nest throughout their nesting period from March to July and may return next year if it is still intact. Because dunnocks nest low in hedgerows and similar places, their nests often don’t last into another nesting season. But the female is very good at building another.

Dunnock collecting nesting material

When do ducklings leave the nest?

Typical chick life for a Dunnock chick is about 12 days.

Dunnocks start breeding in March and usually stop in July. The hatching process takes about 12-13 days, and after 12 days, the chicks start to emerge from the nest. This gives adult dunnocks plenty of time to produce up to three litters per year.

Once wallabies leave the den, other adult kangaroos help them find food and even bring them food as they grow. Their parents also feed them, but dunnocks have a sense of community when it comes to feeding their young. It’s like your friend’s mom bringing you a sandwich while you’re out and about!

recently fledgling ducklings

How many litters do dunnocks have?

Dunnocks can have up to three litters a year. With an average lifespan of just two years, the average Dunnock has about six litters in its lifetime.

They usually lay 4-5 eggs per clutch. So, in an average lifespan, one dunnock can be the mother or father of about 30 baby dunnocks.

Sadly, because dunnocks spend so much time in our gardens, they are often predated by cats. Sparrowhawks also eat dunnocks because they are ground feeders; sparrow hawks catch them easily.

close a dunnock

Do dunnocks nest in the same place every year?

Regardless, the Dunnocks didn’t really travel much. They may have traveled only a few miles from where they were born. So yes, dunnocks do nest in the same place every year. They may not nest in the same den or garden, but they will nest nearby.

Most years, they have to build a whole new den anyway so they can choose an area they think is safe each year.

What does a Dunnock egg look like?

Dunnock eggs are smooth and shiny, and a beautiful bright blue color. They look a lot like mynah eggs, but are much smaller, only around 20mm. The color of duck eggs makes them easy to spot, which is why these birds like to nest in dense hedges and bushes.