Dunnock or Hedge Sparrow Mating Ritual

The Dunnock, or Hedge Sparrow as it is sometimes called, is not the most unusual bird you will see in your garden, or is it?
This quiet and unassuming bird has a complex social structure and it is quite common for one female to engage in a relationship with two males at the same time. Each male wants their genes to survive so before mating, they try to remove a rival's sperm by pecking the female's rear end, the cloaca, which may become pink and swollen before ejaculating any sperm from previous mating attempts. After all that effort by both birds the copulation takes just 1/10th of a second, which is the coming together at the end of the film. Interestingly, the male provide parental care to the chicks and as neither knows who the father is the female is supported by both males.
Music: Long Road Ahead - Kevin MacLeod www.incompetech.com - Royalty Free
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[@MrTiredArse]

just copied this from the Wiki if that's ok, The dunnock possesses variable mating systems. Females are often polyandrous, breeding with two or more males at once,[20][21] which is quite rare among birds. This multiple mating system leads to the development of sperm competition amongst the male suitors. DNA fingerprinting has shown that chicks within a brood often have different fathers, depending on the success of the males at monopolising the female.[17] Males try to ensure their paternity by pecking at the cloaca[22] of the female to stimulate ejection of rival males' sperm.[23] Dunnocks take just one-tenth of a second to copulate and can mate more than 100 times a day.[24] Males provide parental care in proportion to their mating success, so two males and a female can commonly be seen provisioning nestlings at one nest.

[@margaretpritchard2373]

I had a pair of Dunnocks on two consecutive nights doing this mating ritual. Watched spring watch last night and Lola Williams was explaining it. Love the video

[@lucyisboringbutohwell8006]

I just saw that whole thing from my front room and checked your video. Thanks for sharing! Great footage.

[@MrTiredArse]

me too, was wondering what that was all about

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

Fabulous footage. Few people know just how fascinating the private lives of these little brown birds are!

[@Bigguychillz]

Thanks Paul caught them by accident but found it really interesting when I did some research.

[@PaulMiguelPhotography]

They have an interesting sex life.