Wildlifeof Bhutan
Alpine Accentor
Finches, Sparrows & Buntings
Photo: (c) Emanuele Santarelli, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · CC-BY-SA (May be cropped or resized)
Prunella collaris
Basic stats
Habitat
Mountains above 2,000m; neat nest low in a bush or rock crevice
Range
Mountains of southern temperate Europe, Lebanon and Asia; native to Eurasia and North Africa
Clutch size
3–5 unspotted sky-blue eggs
Size
15–17.5cm
The alpine accentor is a robin-sized bird, 15 to 17.5cm long and slightly larger than the dunnock, found throughout the mountains of southern temperate Europe, Lebanon and Asia at heights above 2,000m. It has a streaked brown back somewhat resembling a house sparrow, but adults have an all-grey head and red-brown spotting on the underparts, and an insectivore's fine pointed bill (Wikipedia, general species account).
It builds a neat nest low in a bush or rock crevice, laying three to five unspotted sky-blue eggs. Its mating system is notable: breeding groups of three or four males share a home range with three or four females, a socially polygynandrous system in which females seek matings with all the males, so broods often have mixed paternity. The account opened does not name Bhutan.
Quick answers
- What habitat does the Alpine Accentor live in?
- Mountains above 2,000m; neat nest low in a bush or rock crevice
- Where is the Alpine Accentor found?
- Mountains of southern temperate Europe, Lebanon and Asia; native to Eurasia and North Africa
- How many eggs does the Alpine Accentor lay?
- 3–5 unspotted sky-blue eggs
- How big is the Alpine Accentor?
- 15–17.5cm