Dunnock or Wren?
These two get mixed up constantly. Here is what actually separates them, taken from each bird's own page.
Dunnock
Prunella modularis
Both work the hedge bottom, but a wren is far smaller, rich russet-brown, and carries its short tail cocked upright. A dunnock is grey-fronted, almost twice the bulk, and holds its tail down.
Wren
Troglodytes troglodytes
A dunnock is roughly twice the bulk, grey on the face and breast, and holds its tail down as it shuffles. A wren is much smaller, russet all over with fine barring, and carries its tail vertical.
Side by side
| Dunnock | Wren | |
|---|---|---|
| Size | Almost exactly robin-sized at 14cm, but held lower and flatter, so it looks smaller. | About 9-10cm and roughly 10g — one of the smallest UK birds, far smaller than a robin. |
| Where you'll see it | On the ground under hedges, shrubs and feeders; very rarely on the feeder itself. | Low and deep in cover: ivy, log piles, hedge bottoms, dry stone walls, compost heaps and sheds. |
| What it eats | Small insects, spiders and other invertebrates, plus very small seeds in winter. | Almost entirely small invertebrates — spiders, beetles and larvae picked out of crevices and leaf litter. |
| When | Resident all year, and one of the few garden birds you can find singing in January. | Resident all year. Winter is when it is hardest hit and when cover matters most. |
| Status | Amber listed | Amber listed |
Still not sure? Describe what you saw and we will rank every garden bird against it — including these two.
Both descriptions are taken from the species pages, which cite the BTO and RSPB. Reviewed 2026-09-20.