Brown Accentor Prunella fulvescens Scientific name definitions

15 cm; 20 g. Nominate race is olive-brown with sandy-grey tinge above (slightly darker in W Himalayas), mantle and scapulars with faint darker streaking; long, broad creamy-white supercilium , contrasting dark brown ear-coverts, grey neck side; tail and flight-feathers blackish-brown with buff margins; pale tips of dark median and greater wing-coverts form two indistinct wingbars; buff below, paler on throat and belly, and rich pinkish-buff, almost apricot on breast; iris yellow-brown; bill dark grey; legs pale reddish-brown to yellowish-brown. Sexes alike. Juvenile has narrower, less distinct supercilium, paler ear-coverts, more rufous back than adult, throat pale with dusky spots, underparts rich buff, some dark brown streaking on breast. Races vary largely in ground colour and amount of streaking on upperparts and depth of ochraceous colour below: dahurica is darkest, crown almost blackish, upperparts cold dark grey, distinctly streaked from hindneck to lower mantle and scapulars, rump uniform dull brown-grey, entirely cinnamon-buff below (belly paler only when plumage worn); mongolica is very like nominate, differing only in slightly darker and browner (less olive) upperparts, especially rump, and darker buff (less creamy) belly; <em>dresseri</em> is palest, light sandy-drab to medium buff-grey above, faint narrow brown-grey streaks on lower mantle and scapulars (also crown when plumage fresh), creamy below, slightly warmer pink-buff on breast and sometimes flanks; nanschanica is similar to nominate, but upperparts and flanks heavily and contrastingly streaked black, bill shorter than in other races; <em>khamensis</em> is heavily streaked like previous, but ground colour darker, streaking above more extensive (reaching uppertail-coverts), breast rich ochraceous, becoming buff on belly.

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Formerly considered conspecific with P. ocularis (with fagani). Racial differentiation complicated owing to individual variation (partly age-related, also influenced by plumage wear) and occurrence of intermediates. Described race sushkini (from extreme S Tibet) synonymized with khamensis. Six subspecies recognized.

Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

In summer, found on open rocky or stony alpine and subalpine slopes, also in juniper (Juniperus) scrub, in high barren valleys; prefers drier regions, but not the driest; at 2400–3500 m in Tien Shan, but to 5100 m in W Himalayas and Tibet. In winter, found in same habitats, and upper limit of pine (Pinus) forest, but also extends below tree-line, down to 1500 m; also frequent in villages.

Resident and local altitudinal migrant. Some descend below tree-line in winter months, but many remain on breeding grounds throughout year. Little evidence that non-breeding range differs substantially from summer range.

Mainly invertebrates and seeds. Adult diet not studied in detail, but invertebrates dominate in summer; seeds, supplemented by small berries, in winter. In Tien Shan, nestling diet dominated by flies (Diptera) and homopteran bugs, with significant proportions also of orthopterans, spiders (Araneae), lepidopterans, beetles (Coleoptera) and small snails. Forages mainly on ground, also in bushes and even tree crowns; occasionally takes insects in flight. Searches leaf litter in manner of a thrush (Turdidae), and may dig through 4–5 cm of snow to reach soil surface. Outside breeding season, usually in small, confiding parties of up to about ten individuals.

Song, from top of bush, tree or rock, only rarely in flight, fairly loud, low warble with trills, “tuk-tileep-tilee-tileep-tileep”, 2–3 seconds long; likened to that of P. atrogularis or an inferior song of European Robin (Erithacus rubecula) but more monotonous in composition and rhythm. Call “ziet-ziet-ziet”, like that of a bunting (Emberizidae).

Season Apr or May, depending on altitude, to Aug; double-brooded. Mating system apparently variable: polygyny, polyandry, monogamy and possible polygynandry recorded in Tien Shan. Territorial; territory c. 1 ha, nests usually separated by more than 100 m. Nest, built by female, a cup of plant stems and grass, lined with wool, hairs and feathers; placed in diverse sites, mostly in juniper bush or spruce tree (Picea), also in building, rock crevice, or beneath rocks or vegetation, 74% sited less than 2 m from ground but up to 8 m high, proportion on ground greater at higher altitudes. Clutch 3–5 eggs; incubation by female alone, sometimes fed on nest by male, period 10–12 days; nestlings fed by both sexes, 40% of 20 broods fed by female and two males; males sometimes feed chicks at nests belonging to different females in rapid succession; nestling period 10–15 days; female may start new nest when fledglings still dependent. In Tien Shan, 77% of nests successful, main nest predators crows (Corvidae), raptors and mustelids. Nests sometimes parasitized by Common Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus).

Not globally threatened. Widespread and relatively common in suitable habitat through much of range. Scarce to locally common, with densities of 3–4 birds/km², in S Russia; occurs in Sayano-Shushensky Reserve. No estimate of numbers or population trends available, but appears not to be at any risk.