Driftway, Upper Beeding, Steyning. The other common name "Hedge Sparrow" is a bit of a misnomer as this is not a member of the Sparrow (Passeridae) family but instead the Prunellidae - and the Dunnock is the only UK member of that family. Sparrows instead have broader beaks, more finch-like, than the slender beaks of Dunnocks, as here. Often confused with female sparrows, but those don't have all this grey (and have a thicker beak).

Dunnock / Hedge Sparrow (Prunella modularis) (09/10/2005) Driftway, Upper Beeding, Steyning. The other common name "Hedge Sparrow" is a bit of a misnomer as this is not a member of the Sparrow (Passeridae) family but instead the Prunellidae - and the Dunnock is the only UK member of that family. Sparrows instead have broader beaks, more finch-like, than the slender beaks of Dunnocks, as here. Often confused with female sparrows, but those don't have all this grey (and have a thicker beak).

Driftway, Upper Beeding, Steyning. It is nearly impossible to tell females and males apart, although males are said to have more grey around their heads and body - I suspect this may be a female but I'm not sure.

Dunnock / Hedge Sparrow (Prunella modularis) (09/10/2005) Driftway, Upper Beeding, Steyning. It is nearly impossible to tell females and males apart, although males are said to have more grey around their heads and body - I suspect this may be a female but I'm not sure.

Dunnock / Hedge Sparrow Juvie (Prunella modularis) (27/07/2008) Driftway, Upper Beeding, Steyning. And this is a baby!

Dunnock / Hedge Sparrow Juvie (Prunella modularis) (27/07/2008) Driftway, Upper Beeding, Steyning. Exercising its wings.

Pulborough RSPB Reserve. They are an insectivore but will also eat seeds. Its giss is distinctive as it has a kind of flicky shuffly manner and is quite shy and creeping, liking the shadows.

Dunnock / Hedge Sparrow (Prunella modularis) (09/02/2008) Pulborough RSPB Reserve. They are an insectivore but will also eat seeds. Its giss is distinctive as it has a kind of flicky shuffly manner and is quite shy and creeping, liking the shadows.

Pulborough RSPB Reserve. They breed between April and June and usually produce two broods. Unfortunately they are a target species for Cuckoos as they will readily accept Cuckoo eggs even though they are quite different in appearance.

Dunnock / Hedge Sparrow (Prunella modularis) (09/02/2008) Pulborough RSPB Reserve. They breed between April and June and usually produce two broods. Unfortunately they are a target species for Cuckoos as they will readily accept Cuckoo eggs even though they are quite different in appearance.

Pulborough RSPB Reserve. Their eggs are turquoise sometimes with reddish spots and are incubated for around 12 days. Both adults feed the chicks which leave the nest after another around 12 days.

Dunnock / Hedge Sparrow (Prunella modularis) (27/06/2008) Pulborough RSPB Reserve. Their eggs are turquoise sometimes with reddish spots and are incubated for around 12 days. Both adults feed the chicks which leave the nest after another around 12 days.

Driftway, Upper Beeding, Steyning. During the final days before fledging, the male takes over feeding duties whilst the female starts building a nest for her second brood.

Dunnock / Hedge Sparrow (Prunella modularis) (18/06/2005) Driftway, Upper Beeding, Steyning. During the final days before fledging, the male takes over feeding duties whilst the female starts building a nest for her second brood.

Driftway, Upper Beeding, Steyning. Dunnocks are both polyandrous and polygynous (female can share several males which is highly unusual in birds, and males can share several females.

Dunnock / Hedge Sparrow (Prunella modularis) (21/04/2007) Driftway, Upper Beeding, Steyning. Dunnocks are both polyandrous and polygynous (female can share several males which is highly unusual in birds, and males can share several females.

Driftway, Upper Beeding, Steyning. They are one of my favourites, even though most people think of them as a bit boring!

Dunnock / Hedge Sparrow (Prunella modularis) (21/04/2007) Driftway, Upper Beeding, Steyning. They are one of my favourites, even though most people think of them as a bit boring!

Driftway, Upper Beeding, Steyning. This sequence of images are of a Dunnock having a bath in our mini bird pond!

Dunnock / Hedge Sparrow (Prunella modularis) (09/10/2005) Driftway, Upper Beeding, Steyning. This sequence of images are of a Dunnock having a bath in our mini bird pond!

Dunnock / Hedge Sparrow (Prunella modularis) (09/10/2005) Driftway, Upper Beeding, Steyning.