Story: Introduced land birds

Hedge sparrow

The hedge sparrow (also called the dunnock) is so named because its colour is similar to the female house sparrow. However, its fine bill shows that, unlike the sparrow, the hedge sparrow mainly eats invertebrates and small insects – like beetles, flies and aphids – rather than seeds.

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Natural Sciences Image Library of New Zealand
Reference: DSCF6475.jpg
Photograph by Peter E. Smith

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Sound file from the Department of Conservation

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How to cite this page:

Christina Troup, 'Introduced land birds - Other small passerines', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/natural-sounds/17184/hedge-sparrow (accessed 2 May 2024)

Story by Christina Troup, published 24 Nov 2008, reviewed & revised 17 Feb 2015