Dunnock

Today's the day .......................... to keep a low profile

At first glance the Dunnock, also known as the Hedge Sparrow, looks a bit boring - but really nothing could be further from the truth.

It is certainly an LBJ (little brown job).  That's what the name dunnock  means - and it does look like a sort of dull  sparrow - but on closer inspection it is quite attractive with its blue-grey head and breast, light and dark brown streaky back, brown streaked flanks and pink legs. The black bill is finer than that of a sparrow, because it feeds mainly on insects and not seed.

Its song is a pleasant surprise - an unhurried sweet warble which can be confused with the wren or robin.  Its main call is shrill, persistent 'tseep', which often betrays its otherwise inconspicuous presence. 

It is the sex-life of the Dunnock that is the most remarkable thing about it.  Few are monogamous and most are either polyandrous where the females have more than one male mate - or polygynous where the males have more than one female mate.

Yes - it's often the quiet ones you have to keep an eye on ...............