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Taxonomy and etymology
The genus Prunella was introduced by the French ornithologist Louis Vieillot in 1816 with the dunnock (Prunella modularis) as the type species. Although the genus is usually used for all the accentors, the alpine accentor and Altai accentor are sometimes separated into the genus Laiscopus.
Harrison used the group name dunnock for all of the species, not just Prunella modularis (thus e.g. Japanese dunnock for P. rubida); this usage is based on the oldest known name for any of the species (old English dun-, brown, + -ock, small: "little brown bird"). Accentor derives from the old scientific name for the Alpine accentor (Accentor collaris). It comes from Late Latin, meaning "sing with another" (ad + cantor). The genus name Prunella is from the German Braunelle, "dunnock", a diminutive of braun, "brown".
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Description
These are small, fairly drab species superficially similar, but not closely related to, sparrows. They are 14 to 18 cm (5.5 to 7.1 in) in length, and weigh between 25 and 35 g (0.88 and 1.23 oz). However, accentors have thin sharp bills, reflecting their diet of ground-dwelling insects in summer, augmented with small seeds and berries in winter. They may also swallow grit and sand to help their stomach break up these seeds.
Most of the species live together in flocks. The dunnock is an exception since it prefers to be solitary except when feeding. The dunnock also earned a nickname of "shuffle-wing" since it most strongly displays the characteristic wing flicks used during courtship and other displays.
Accentors may have one to three broods a year. Courtship consists of a great deal of song from the males, which may include short lark-like song flights to attract a mate. In most species, the male and female share in the nest making, with the dunnocks again being an exception; their males have no part in nest building or incubation. They build neat cup nests and lay 3–6 unspotted green or blue eggs. The eggs are incubated for around 12 days. The young are fed by both parents and take an additional 12 days or so to fledge.
Habitat
Their typical habitat is mountainous regions in an area far above the tree-line, but below the snow-line. The Alpine accentor has been observed at nearly 8,000 m (26,000 ft) altitude in the Himalaya and the Altai and Robin accentors at 5,500 m (18,000 ft); however, most accentors breed in scrub vegetation at lower levels. Most species are altitudinal migrants, descending to lower altitudes to spend the winter, but some are long-distance migrants, most notably the Siberian accentor, which migrates 3,000–5,000 km from northern Siberia to China and Korea. Accentors spend the majority of their time in the undergrowth and even when flushed, stay low to the ground until reaching cover.
Species list
Twelve species are currently accepted:
- 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 (includes the formerly accepted Arabian accentor Prunella fagani, lumped in 2018)
- Black-throated accentor Prunella atrogularis
- Kozlov's accentor Prunella koslowi
- Dunnock Prunella modularis
- Japanese accentor Prunella rubida
- Maroon-backed accentor Prunella immaculata