Dun
If you check out the details of the Dunnock you’ll see it described as “A small brown and grey bird”. That’s because we’ve forgotten what the word dun means. The word has clearly fallen out of common usage, and despite pubs called The Dun Cow and streets named Dun Cow Street, very few people know what dun means.
Dun is a colour. Dun means brownish grey. The addition of -ock means small, as in Haddock.
Dunnock means “A small brown and grey thing.” The word itself tells you that.
Lovely, aren’t they?
More Dunnocks
High wire walker – with a twist A Dunnock at RSPB Otmoor doing a display for a partner. A beautiful fluttering fan dance. read more
Dunnock This Dunnock was singing beautifully on top of the bursting Hawthorn this morning. What a joy to be up early… read more
Keeping close to cover Dunnocks are the very definition of skulking. They often keep low and rarely go far from cover. This time of… read more
Prunella modularis I recommend looking. Seeing the ordinary and realising it's extraordinary is a habit which can bring you much joy. This… read more
Dunnock Warm winter light on orange fallen leaves. Beautiful, isn't it? It's even better when a Dunnock is fossicking in them.… read more
Return to Challacombe Farm I’ve been to Challacombe Farm before. It's teeming with animals for food and fun read more
The mellow babble of the Hedge Chanter There's a Dunnock in the undergrowth. It looks so beautiful in this light. It's too busy searching for food amongst… read more