Alpine Accentor
Prunella collaris
Stocky, stout, and unobtrusive bird of alpine regions above the treeline. Often seen shuffling around boulders in small groups. Distinctive dark wing panel bordered by pale spots forming two wingbars, particularly obvious in flight. Barred throat can be difficult to see but chestnut flanks with white streaks distinctive. Flight is strong and fast before diving behind rocks.
Identification
This is a robin-sized bird at 15–17.5 cm (5.9–6.9 in) in length, slightly larger than its relative, the dunnock. It has a streaked brown back, somewhat resembling a house sparrow, but adults have a grey head and red-brown spotting on the underparts. It has an insectivore's fine pointed bill.<p>Sexes are similar, although the male may be contrasted in appearance. Young birds have browner heads and underparts.
Taxonomy
The Alpine accentor was described by the Austrian naturalist Giovanni Antonio Scopoli in 1769. He coined the binomial name Sturnus collaris and specified the type locality as the Carinthia region of southern Austria. The specific epithet is from the Latin collaris "of the neck". This species is now placed in the genus Prunella that was introduced by the French ornithologist Louis Pierre Vieillot in 1816. The Alpine accentor, along with the Altai accentor is sometimes separated from the other accentors, into the genus Laiscopus.<p>The word "accentor" is from post-classical Latin and means a person who sings with another. The genus name Prunella is from the German Braunelle, "dunnock", a diminutive of braun, "brown".<p>Nine subspecies are recognised:
- Scientific name
- Prunella collaris
- Authority
- (Scopoli, 1769)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Prunellidae
- Genus
- Prunella
Range and habitat
It is found throughout the mountains of southern temperate Europe, Lebanon and Asia at heights above 2,000 m (6,600 ft). It is mainly resident, wintering more widely at lower latitudes, but some birds wander as rare vagrants as far as Great Britain.<p>It is a bird of bare mountain areas with some low vegetation.
- Migration
- Complete migrants
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Cretzschmar's Bunting
Emberiza caesia
Very similar to Ortolan Bunting, but note that the base color of the head is gray and not green, and the throat is orange and not yellow. Adult males are brighter and more deeply-colored compared to females and young. Call is a sharper “tzip.” Song is a tri-syllabic, melancholic, and high-pitched whistled “si-si-siiii.” Breeds on open rocky slopes in Mediterranean climates. Winters in dry, open habitats such as fields, savannas, and wadis.
Acorn Woodpecker
Melanerpes formicivorus
Medium-sized woodpecker with unique face pattern: red crown, pale yellowish forehead and throat, and pale eye. Otherwise glossy-black with streaky underparts. In flight, look for blazing white rump and wing patches. Typically fairly common from western North America to Colombia, especially in mixed oak forests and other open woodlands. Social and conspicuous. Occurs in family groups that breed cooperatively. Well-known for stashing large numbers of acorns in telephone poles and tree trunks. Listen for nasal “waka-waka” calls and chatters.
Plain-backed Sparrow
Passer flaveolus
Male resembles a faded blend between House and Russet Sparrows, with a black throat, gray crown and nape, and dusty reddish brows and back. Female has a thin pale brow and is overall very plain and unmarked. House Sparrow females have a broader, more prominent brow stripe and are overall more strongly-marked. Both sexes of Russet Sparrow are likewise much more contrastingly patterned. Gives typical sparrow chirps and chirrups. Inhabits edge habitats including farmlands and gardens. Primarily a lowland species, but gets up into the foothills where it overlaps with Russet Sparrow.
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