Alpine Accentor

Prunella collaris (Scopoli, 1769)

15–18 cmLength39 gWeight

About the size of a European Robin, it has a brown, streaked back, and the adult has a gray head and rufous spots on the underparts.

Busiest months: April–May and November · Most records: China, Bhutan, Portugal

Least Concern

How to identify

Field marks

Head entirely gray
Underparts with rufous spots
Back rufous-brown with stripes
Bill slender and pointed

Male, female and young

Sexes similar; juveniles have more rufous on the head and underparts.

Where and when it's recorded

Busiest months: April–May and November · Most records: China, Bhutan, Portugal

Alpine Accentor has been recorded at 179 of the 8,276 birding hotspots we track, in 30 countries and regions.

Records by month Northern Hemisphere

Where it's recorded most

Balang Shan [General Area]China145 records
PN Sudoeste Alentejano e Costa Vicentina – Cabo de São VicentePortugal144 records
Balang Shan PassChina142 records

More places

Vallée d'OukaïmedenMorocco139 records
ChelelaBhutan98 records
Hike to Tiger's Nest MonasteryBhutan84 records
PelelaBhutan82 records
Lingshan Scenic AreaChina54 records
Tharpaling MonasteryBhutan53 records
Casares – CastilloSpain45 records

Countries and regions with the most records

China Bhutan Portugal Morocco Spain Georgia Mongolia India

eBird records via GBIF up to 2024-12-31. A record means someone listed it; more records partly mean more birders, not more birds.

About

The alpine accentor (Prunella collaris) is a small passerine bird in the family Prunellidae, which is native to Eurasia and North Africa.

Excerpt from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 · authors · Read more on Wikipedia

Questions

How big is the Alpine Accentor?

The Alpine Accentor is about 15–18 cm long and weighs around 39 g.

Where does the Alpine Accentor live?

Its breeding range: Palearctic: southwestern, south-central, eastern, also northwestern Africa. It is most often recorded in China, Bhutan and Portugal.

When is the best time to see the Alpine Accentor?

At the hotspots we track, it is recorded most in April, May and November (Northern Hemisphere).

Is the Alpine Accentor endangered?

The IUCN Red List classifies the Alpine Accentor as Least Concern.

What does the Alpine Accentor eat?

Main food: Insects & other invertebrates.

What family is the Alpine Accentor in?

It belongs to the family Accentors (Prunellidae), order Passerines (Passeriformes).

At a glance

Length: 15–18 cm
Weight: 39 g
Habitat: Grassland
Diet: Insects & other invertebrates
Lifestyle: Active on the ground
Migration: Partial migrant
Conservation: Least Concern

More measurements

Wing: 100 mm
Tail: 64 mm
Bill: 17 mm
Tarsus: 24 mm

Averages from the AVONET dataset; length from field guides where available.

Range

Palearctic: southwestern, south-central, eastern, also northwestern Africa

Breeding range, IOC World Bird List 15.2

Subspecies · 5

Prunella collaris rufilata ne Afghanistan and n Pakistan through the mountains of c Asia to w China
Prunella collaris nipalensis c, e Himalayas to sc China and n Myanmar
Prunella collaris tibetana e Tibet
Prunella collaris erythropygia e Kazakhstan and sc Siberia to ne Siberia, Japan, Korea and ne China
Prunella collaris fennelli Taiwan (China)