house sparrows v dunnocks

[didds]

is there an easy and obvious way to tell them apart?

i google images of both and am still none the wiser as what I think I must be looking at, in one picture is a house sparrow and in the next looks like a dunnock!

didds

[hermit100]

Sparrows have a typical 'finch' sort of beak, i.e. shorter and rounder, whereas dunnocks, being mostly ground feeders, have more pointy beaks.

Likewise if they're on feeders they're likely to be sparrows, on the ground likely to be dunnocks.

[midnightcatprowl]

As hermit100 says but I'd add that sparrows are noisy, gregarious birds who seem to prefer going around and perching together in a gang and who enjoy a great deal of squabbling with their 'friends'. Dunnocks in contrast seem quiet little birds who tend to go about their business by themselves, you might have several dunnocks feeding on the ground in your garden but they won't be flocking together in the way sparrows do and they won't be so noticeable by the noise they produce. The behaviour difference is a good first step to identification.

[MaraMan]

I think they are pretty easy to tell apart in the flesh, or the feather. Besides the behavioral differences the Dunnock is stockier, has a distinctly different colouration (greyish) to its head and neck. It also has a thinner beak, but that's probably only obvious when seen side by side. Can I recommend these BTO videos for general bird ID, not sure if the Dunnock is listed but it could well be. https://www.bto.org/about-birds/bird-id

MM

[jackdaww]

Sparrows have a typical 'finch' sort of beak, i.e. shorter and rounder, whereas dunnocks, being mostly ground feeders, have more pointy beaks.

Likewise if they're on feeders they're likely to be sparrows, on the ground likely to be dunnocks.

===========================

one of our dunnocks has learned to access the the peanut feeder , they have observed bits falling down from them and taken the next step .

normally they feed on the ground alone or in a pair .

the legs are a brighter orange than a sparrows.

a nice refined little bird, that also sings .

[Slarti]

Sparrows have a typical 'finch' sort of beak, i.e. shorter and rounder, whereas dunnocks, being mostly ground feeders, have more pointy beaks.

Likewise if they're on feeders they're likely to be sparrows, on the ground likely to be dunnocks.

Can't agree about on the ground not being sparrows as ours seem to spend time on the feeders and on the ground.

But, the sparrow has a bolder stance on the ground, while the dunnock seems to cower more. Compare the pictures at https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/bird-and-wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/d/dunnock/ to see what I mean.

Also sparrows are noisier

Slarti