Dunnock

Small yet distinctive, the bird features a slender bill akin to a thrush rather than the stoutness of sparrows. Sporting a blue-gray head, streaked back, and a unique shuffling gait, it is often spotted alone or in pairs on lawns or pathways. Inhabiting diverse environments from heathlands to gardens, its unremarkable, slightly tinny song carries a steady, warbled rhythm, gaining distinction through familiarity. Originally from Eurasia, it has been introduced to New Zealand and neighboring islands.