Accentor

The accentors are in the only bird family, Prunellidae, which is completely endemic to the Palearctic. This small group of closely related passerines are all in a single genus Prunella. All but the Dunnock are inhabitants of the mountainous regions of Europe and Asia. This group is not strongly migratory, but they will leave the coldest parts of their range in winter, and make altitudinal movements.

These are small, fairly drab species superficially similar, but unrelated to, sparrows. However, accentors have thin sharp bills, reflecting their diet of insects in summer, augmented with seeds and berries in winter.

They build neat cup nests and lay about 4 unspotted green or blue eggs. Both sexes incubate.

Species list:

• Alpine Accentor[?] Prunella collaris
• Altai Accentor Prunella himalayana
• Robin Accentor Prunella rubeculoides
• Rufous-breasted Accentor Prunella strophiata
• Siberian Accentor Prunella montanella
• Brown Accentor Prunella fulvescens
• Radde's Accentor Prunella ocularis
• Black-throated Accentor Prunella atrogularis
• Koslow's Accentor Prunella koslowi
• Dunnock[?] or Hedge Accentor Prunella modularis
• Japanese Accentor Prunella rubida
• Maroon-backed Accentor Prunella immaculata