Do dunnocks sit on their eggs?

Females build the nest in hedges and covered areas from twigs and moss, lined with hair in a cup shape. The eggs are glossy and blue and range from 14mm to 19mm. Dunnocks nests are often taken over by Cuckoos, the Dunnock does not notice the change in eggs and will continue to sit on the nest as if they are her own.

How long do Dunnock eggs take to hatch?

between 12-13 days
The incubation period of eggs tends to be between 12-13 days, and then 11-12 fledge days thereafter. Dunnock eggs are around 19mm long and feature a glossy exterior sheen. After hatching, both parents are involved in the feeding of the young.

What do dunnocks eggs look like?

Dunnock eggs are smooth and glossy, about 20 x 15mm in size. They are bright-blue eggs that are unmarked; smaller than superficially similar starling eggs. The eggs may be unassuming, but the breeding habits of dunnocks are promiscuous.

How many babies does a Dunnock have?

Two to three broods are typical with the clutch size being 4-5 eggs. Dunnocks are unusual in their breeding behaviour in that male birds may have two females, plus other scenarios occur where two males and two females may, effectively, form one breeding pair.

What time of year do dunnocks nest?

Breeding starts from April through to July. Dunnocks don’t breed in pairs, they breed in groups. The group could be up to three males and three females, but usually two males and two females. The nest is built by the female and is made in scrubs and hedges.

What is the lifespan of a Dunnock?

How long do dunnocks live for? Dunnocks live for approximately two years. The current longevity record for this species is 11 years and three months.

Do dunnocks nest on the ground?

You will typically find dunnocks in hedgerows, woodlands and even in your back garden. During the breeding season, dunnocks will build their nests low to the ground in shrubs such as hawthorn or brambles.

Are Dunnocks aggressive?

This aggression sometimes spills over to be directed towards unfortunate Dunnocks. Perhaps it is the Robin-like shape of the Dunnock that stimulates an attack or perhaps Robins view Dunnocks as genuine competitors. Either way, it is easy to see why the Dunnock is one of the more secretive of your garden visitors.

Where do Dunnocks nest?

What kind of bird lays eggs in a dunnock?

The Dunnock is also interesting because it is one of the main hosts for the Cuckoo, a species renowned for laying its eggs in the nests of other species – a behaviour known as brood parasitism. A female Cuckoo, visiting the nest of a Dunnock, will remove one of the Dunnock’s eggs before laying one of her own directly into the nest.

Why does the dunnock cuckoo lay its eggs in shrubbery?

By encouraging both males to mate with her, the female should secure both of their services when the eggs hatch. The Dunnock is also interesting because it is one of the main hosts for the Cuckoo, a species renowned for laying its eggs in the nests of other species – a behaviour known as brood parasitism.

What kind of cover does a dunnock bird use?

The nest is usually well hidden in fairly dense cover such as a shrub or hedge. It is a deep cup of plant stems, twigs, grasses and other general plant material, then lined with moss and hair etc. Sometimes the old nests of other birds are used and adapted.

When do cuckoos remove their eggs from the nest?

Because the level of nest parasitism is low within the Dunnock population as a whole, it may be some time before an evolutionary response becomes apparent. Once the young Cuckoo has hatched from its egg it will set about removing any other eggs or young Dunnocks that remain in the nest.