THE HEDGE ACCENTOR 
ACCENTOR MODULARIS 
LocaL names in surrounding counties: “‘ Hedge-betty,” 
“Hedge Moke ”’ (Essex). 
Status In British AvirAuNA: A common and widely 
distributed resident, its numbers increased in autumn by 
migratory individuals. 
Rap1iaL DistRIBUTION WITHIN FIFTEEN MILES OF ST. 
Paut’s: ‘The Hedge Accentor is one of the commonest 
birds of the Metropolitan area, too often mistaken for a 
Sparrow, perhaps, but a denizen of London found, say, 
from the two-mile radius in increasing numbers to the 
outlying suburbs. That the bird is much overlooked, 
especially in the central districts, there can be no doubt, 
but the observant person may detect it in almost every 
nook where it can possibly find food and shelter. It is 
a resident in probably all the London parks, and there 
must be few suburban gardens or shrubberies worthy of 
the name in which it does not dwell or which it does not 
visit at one time or another. I know of small gardens in 
London which are visited regularly by the Hedge Accentor 
in winter only. A friend of mine told me that a bird 
of this species has visited his garden regularly for several 
years, remaining all the winter through, disappearing in 
spring. ‘This is a common trait of the Robin also, and 
many other small birds. In some cases these individuals 
may be migrants from other lands, and then the incident 
becomes even more interesting. 
The Hedge Accentor becomes far more localised in 
summer, simply because suitable breeding-places are 
restricted. ‘There are many spots in the London area 
where this bird can and does pick up a living during the 
winter, but which for various reasons are quite un- 
suitable for nesting purposes. Almost any kind of cover 
58 
