In this work Nick Davies gives a full account of behaviour, reproduction, and mating patterns in the dunnock (Prunella modularis), also known as the hedge sparrow. Just a little brown bird typically seen near the ground in dense vegetation, its mating systems include pairs, a male with two females, two males with one female, and several males with several females. Observations, field experiments, and DNA fingerprinting are combined to show how this variable social organization arises as an outcome of individuals competing selfishly to maximize their own reproductive success. David Quinn's drawings provide a visual summary of the birds' behaviour. The work also addresses general questions such as the influence of ecology on mating systems and the evolutionary outcomes of conflict within and between species.
