Best time to see: all year

Key facts

Widespread small brown bird with characteristic cocked tail

Habitat: anywhere with good low cover, and especially woods

Widespread and common resident

Recognition

Barred back and flanks, tail often cocked; 9–10 cm

Usually hunts for food in dense cover, given away by its calls and loud, wheezing song Play

Feeds on insects

Lifecycle

Males build several trial nests and the female and lines it with feathers

Nest is a neat dome of grass, moss or leaves in a hole in a bank or in low vegetation

Up to 3 broods late April to June, 5–8 white eggs, speckled red