Birds by Name – D

Dunlin

The Dunlin, Calidris alpina, is a small migratory wader, sometimes forming large flocks on coastal mudflats or sandy beaches. It has a slightly down-curved bill and a distinctive black belly patch in breeding plumage.

Juveniles are brown above with two whitish ‘V’ shapes on the back and usually have black marks on the flanks or belly and displasy a strong white wingbar in flight.

Dunlins eat insects, snails and worms.

Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Scolopacidae
Genus: Calidris
Species: C. alpina

Dunnock

The Dunnock, Prunella modularis, is a small, Robin-sized passerine bird of the Accentor family and is found throughout temperate Europe.

It is a bird of woodland, shrub and gardens and builds a neat nest low in a bush or conifer, laying 3-5 unspotted blue eggs.

The Dunnock grows to about 14 cm in length, has a brownish underneath and a fine pointed bill. Adults have a grey head and the sexes are fairly similarly coloured.

Dunnocks eat insects, spiders, worms and seeds which means that those in the colder areas of their range have to migrate.

Order: Passeriformes
Family: Prunellidae
Genus: Prunella
Species: P. modularis