"Scurrying" little bird - Sussex UK (1 Viewer)

[BBandW]

Glancing out of the kitchen window yesterday I saw a small dull brown/grey bird - a little too big for a wren but a little too small for a sparrow. I would hardly have given it a second look apart fom its very characteristic scurrying motion. It was almost mouse like, dashing in straight lines with very rapid small steps along the ground.

The area is suburban gardens with good quantity of trees, undergrowth etc.

Any ideas ?

 

[Marmot]

How about a Dunnock...NB the head on them is not always as light as the one shown here.

http://www.birdforum.net/opus/Dunnock

 

[Fozzybear]

Sounds very much like a Dunnock, they're often referred to as mouse-like. Grey/brown and slightly streaky looking, shuffles along making lots of little pecking motions to the ground when feeding. They tend to keep quite close to cover too and like to be low down.

 

[KenM]

I would give the observer the benefit of the doubt!...I assume the the obs. would be familiar with Dunnock, as they are certainly more numerous in my garden, than the other two species mentioned. 'Scurrying' like a mouse is a Gropper trait..I have never seen Dunnock 'mouse!'

BBandW look up Grasshopper Warbler!..before concluding Dunnock!

 

[pauco]

Dunnock for me too.

 

[Wkdwitch]

Definitely Dunnock, I have watched them for hours and they can be quite mouse like at times.

 

[David FG]

I would give the observer the benefit of the doubt!...I assume the the obs. would be familiar with Dunnock, as they are certainly more numerous in my garden, than the other two species mentioned. 'Scurrying' like a mouse is a Gropper trait..I have never seen Dunnock 'mouse!'

BBandW look up Grasshopper Warbler!..before concluding Dunnock!

Simply on the balance of probabilities it is hugely more likely to be a Dunnock than a Grasshopper Warbler, which would be quite something in the average suburban garden.

 

[KenM]

I have seen Dunnock hop....sometimes quickly in rapid succession!...but never 'scurry' like a mouse! I regularly get mice scurrying across my patio feeding on the spilt niger seed, and when they scurry...they are almost 'motorised'.

It would be beneficial if the observer cared to offer their definition of the word 'scurry', and or if, they are familiar with Dunnock.

If their understanding of the word 'scurry' is more pedestrian than mine..then so be it!

As far as probability is concerned?...Tufted Puffin, Magnificent Frigatebird, Varied Thrush etc.etc. probably shouldn't be on the British List.

Oh..and as far as 'gropper' is concerned...turning up in a suburban garden..check this one out in a very urban garden.

cheers

 

[Jane Turner]

Not seen a Dunnock scurry?

From BWP
Gait includes characteristic mouse-like shuffle or creep with small hops and mincing walk (legs almost hidden), as well as more active hopping with simultaneous flicking of wings and occasional jerking of tail. Carriage usually rather horizontal when creeping, with head and tail often above level of body, but more upright when hopping and particularly so when resting or when singing from perch.

American Sparrows run like mice, perhaps its one of those

 

[KenM]

I think it's time for BBandW to offer her definition of 'dashing in straight lines..with very rapid small steps.

cheers

 

[Stephen Dunstan]

Another vote for Dunnock.

Why go for the extremely unlikely when the very likely hasn't been discounted?

 

[Stephen Dunstan]

FWIW the posters have asked for confirmation on a Dunnock ID before on Birdforum. This could of course be used to justify the view that i) they are familiar with Dunnock or ii) they are not that familiar with Dunnock to need confirmation.

Stephen

 

[Jan-Paul Charteris]

I wouldn't describe Gropper as dull brown/grey, the reference to any grey suggests Dunnock immediately. Also when Dunnocks aren't being fidgety flicking wings etc they often move fast along the ground in a series of small shuffles, the bird just appearing to move, or dart if you like forward with little leg movement or bounce/hop being visible

Jan

 

[David FG]

I have seen Dunnock hop....sometimes quickly in rapid succession!...but never 'scurry' like a mouse! I regularly get mice scurrying across my patio feeding on the spilt niger seed, and when they scurry...they are almost 'motorised'.

It would be beneficial if the observer cared to offer their definition of the word 'scurry', and or if, they are familiar with Dunnock.

If their understanding of the word 'scurry' is more pedestrian than mine..then so be it!

As far as probability is concerned?...Tufted Puffin, Magnificent Frigatebird, Varied Thrush etc.etc. probably shouldn't be on the British List.

Oh..and as far as 'gropper' is concerned...turning up in a suburban garden..check this one out in a very urban garden.

cheers

Yes we all know the unlikely happens - rarely.

And most of us know that the ordinary and commonplace and likely happen vastly more often.

 

[BBandW]

Thanks for the info everyone. Much as I'd like to "claim" a grass hopper warbler in my back garden, I fear, on consideration, that the humble dunnock is more likely.