Dunnock

If ever a so-called “little brown job” was a dark horse it is the dunnock or hedge accentor. Despite its shy behaviour, it has a surprisingly colourful sex life with a ménage a trois. Two cock birds will mate with a single female. Perhaps she will never know who is actually the father of her brood, but will have two males in attendance helping to raise the chicks. Due to their clandestine behaviour they have been nicknamed creepy and shufflewing, while the name “foolish sparrow” refers to the fact that are often chosen as host for the cuckoo.