Family Accentors (Prunellidae)
Least Concern
Japanese Accentor (Prunella rubida)
Taxonomy
French: Accenteur du Japon German: Rötelbraunelle Spanish: Acentor japonés
Distribution:
S Sakhalin, S Kuril Is and Japan (S to Shikoku); in winter also Kyushu; recorded in Korea.
Descriptive notes
14–16 cm; 19 g. Has chestnut crown and nape, grey edging of nape feathers; ear-coverts cinnamon-brown with fine pale streaks; mantle rich chestnut with black streaks,... read more
Voice
Song, from bush or tree, an inconspicuous trill, “tsee-tsee syuu tsee-tsee-syuu”, but... read more
Habitat
In summer, chiefly in thickets and the understorey of pine (Pinus), birch (Betula... read more
Food and feeding
Invertebrates; also seeds, primarily in winter. Forages mainly on ground, often beneath bushes and in undergrowth, sometimes at edges of... read more
Breeding
Season May–Aug; double-brooded. Female copulates with more than one male, and two males may assist female in feeding single brood;... read more
Movements
N breeders migrate S to S parts of Honshu in Oct; mainly an altitudinal migrant in S, but some may... read more
Status and conservation
Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Fairly common in suitable habitat on Hokkaido, Honshu and Shikoku. No estimates of numbers or population trends available.
N populations described as race fervida, but variation considered insufficient to warrant recognition of geographical races; birds in extreme N (Sakhalin) possibly a distinct race, but further study needed. Monotypic.