Dunnock relatively lower success for females. In times of scarcity, female territories expand to accommodate the lack of resources, causing males to have a more difficult time monopolizing females. Hence, females gain a reproductive advantage over males in this case. The dunnock possesses variable mating systems. Females are often polyandrous, breeding with two or more males at once, 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
Wallis Bird Festival, Frequency Festival, Rock En Seine, Lowlands and Pukkelpop. In January 2011, Bird toured with Anaïs Mitchell's performance of her album "Hadestown", providing opening support whilst also taking part in the main production of the show. In November 2011, Bird released a special limited edition sole acoustic album (limited to 1000 copies) called "The Mistakes are Intentional". Bird recorded the solo versions in her home in London during the summer of 2011. The CD is packaged in a wallet which has been hand-stitched by Bird herself. Bird made the album in anticipation of the release of her third album. Bird