hedge sparrow

(also known as ‘dunnock’, ‘hedge warbler’, ‘hedge accentor’)

a kind of bird – song bird – ground bird – slim body with blue-grey head and front (breast) feathers,

light and dark brown streaky back, brown streaked sides, sturdy pink legs and slender pointed beak (bill); size: 5-7 inches long, and weighs 20-40 grams; feeds on (eats) insects on the ground (but in winter feeds on some seeds, too); lives for 6-12 years (?); about 12 species found in Europe, Asia and N. Africa

Special Features:

Though the name has ‘sparrow’ in it, a ‘hedge sparrow’ is not related to ‘sparrows’!

Hedge sparrows are the host of the ‘cuckoo birds’; i.e. cuckoo birds lay their eggs in hedge sparrows’ nests for the sparrows to raise their (cuckoos’) young!

feeding on ground

Hedge sparrows feed on the ground, jumping and hopping along looking for insects; they even build their nests on the ground, some of them build on the bushes, though.

Though some times they feed on grain and seeds, hedge sparrows help controlling the insect pests on farms and in gardens!  They feed their young with caterpillars and thus save the plants and crops from damage by insects!

Figures of Speech:

brustle along like a hedge sparrow  (‘brustle’ = move in stiff and strong steps)         [said of a boat moving]

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