Siberian Accentor
A species of Accentors Scientific name : Prunella montanella Genus : Accentors
Siberian Accentor, A species of Accentors
Botanical name: Prunella montanella
Genus: Accentors
Content
Description General Info
Description
The Siberian accentor is on average 14.5 centimetres (5.7 in) long and weighs 17.5 grams (0.62 oz). The adult of the nominate race has brown upperparts and wings, with bright chestnut streaking on its back and a greyish-brown rump and tail. There are two narrow whitish bars on the folded wings. The head has a dark brown crown, a long, wide pale yellow supercilium, a blackish patch behind the eye and grey sides to the neck. The underparts are ochre yellow, becoming strongly buff on the flanks and greyish on the lower belly. There are rich chestnut streaks on the sides of the breast and the flanks. The iris is a warm red-brown, the sharply pointed bill is dark and the legs are reddish. All plumages are similar. The female has slightly duller underparts with weaker streaking, and the juvenile is overall duller with brown spots on the breast and chest. Juvenile birds in autumn also show more wear to the tail feathers and the tertials that cover the folded wing, and they often have a duller iris colour than the adults. The subspecies P. m. badia is somewhat smaller and darker than the nominate form, with richer brown upperparts, deeper buff underparts, and rustier flank streaks. Adults undergo a complete moult between July and September after breeding has finished. Juvenile birds have a partial moult in the same period, replacing the head, body and some wing covert feathers. The only species that can potentially be confused with the Siberian accentor is the related black-throated accentor, since first-autumn birds of the latter species may have a relatively inconspicuous dark throat. The Siberian accentor is still distinguishable by its rustier back colour, yellow (not off-white) supercilium and the absence of a white line below the black face mask.
Size
13 - 23 cm
Nest Placement
Ground
Feeding Habits
Siberian Accentor primarily consumes insects, focusing on beetle larvae. In winter, siberian Accentor includes seeds from crowberry, Amaranthaceae, and Betulaceae families in its diet. Foraging involves searching the soil and grass, and turning over dead leaves to find food.
Habitat
Siberian Accentor is typically found in boreal and subarctic zones, preferring habitats such as the northern limits of coniferous and deciduous forests. This species thrives in valley thickets near riverbanks, dense with bushes and trees like willow and spruce. They are also prevalent in taiga environments, and at higher elevations, they inhabit sparse woodlands of spruce and birch up to the tree line. During winter, siberian Accentor's habitat shifts to include thickets and shrubs, particularly those near rivers and streams.
Dite type
Insectivorous
General Info
Feeding Habits
Bird food type
Distribution Area
The Siberian accentor breeds in a belt across northern Russia east from just west of the Ural Mountains to the Pacific coast, with a second, more fragmented, band across southern Siberia. It is migratory, wintering in east China and Korea. This species winters in small numbers in Mongolia, but only rarely in Japan. The breeding habitat is subarctic willow and birch forests, and open coniferous woodland, often close to rivers or bogs, although pairs are also found in mountains and spruce taiga. In winter, the Siberian accentor occupies bushes and shrubs, often near streams, but may also be found in dry grassland and woods.
Scientific Classification
Phylum
Chordates Class
Birds Order
Perching birds Family
Accentors Genus
Accentors Species
Siberian Accentor