Prunellidae – Accentors

Dunnock Prunella modularis ©Andy Bright Website

The Prunellidae or accentors are the only bird family, which is endemic to the Palearctic. This small group of closely related passerines are all in a single genus – Prunella. [Although the alpine accentor and Altai accentor are separated into the genus Laiscopus by some taxonomists.] All but the dunnock and the Japanese accentor are inhabitants of the mountainous regions of Europe and Asia; these two also occur in lowland areas, as does the Siberian accentor in the far north of Siberia.

Their typical habitat is mountainous regions in an area far above the tree-line, but below the snow-line. The Himalayan accentor can be found as high as 17,000 ft above sea level when breeding, however, most accentors breed in scrub vegetation at lower levels and most species migrate downwards to spend the winter, with only some being hardy enough to remain. This genus is not strongly migratory, but they will leave the coldest parts of their range in winter, as well as making altitudinal movements. Accentors spend the majority of their time in the undergrowth and even when flushed, stay low to the ground until reaching cover.

They are small, often drab species generally regarded as being related to the thrushes or the warblers. Accentors have thin sharp bills, reflecting their diet of ground-dwelling insects in summer, augmented with seeds and berries in winter.

Their mating systems are unusually flexible, with some pairs breeding monogamously (usually where resources are relatively scarce) and others breeding polygamously, either one male with two or more females (polygyny), one female with two or more males (polyandry), or, occasionally, several males and females together (polygynandry). This variety reflects the fact that males and females defend territories more or less independently. Where resources are rich (and hence territories can be small) it is possible for males to monopolise several females, or for females to attract several males. Accentors may have two 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 dunnock being an exception – their males have no part in nest building or incubation. They build neat cup nests and lay about 4 unspotted green or blue eggs.

Species List

There are just 13 species of Accentor; they are

Alpine Accentor Prunella collaris
Altai (Rufous-streaked) 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
Arabian (Yemen) Accentor Prunella fagani
Black-throated Accentor Prunella atrogularis
Kozlov’s (Mongolian) Accentor Prunella koslowi
Dunnock (Hedge Sparrow/Accentor) Prunella modularis
Japanese Accentor Prunella rubida
Maroon-backed Accentor Prunella immaculata

Species Links
  • Alpine Accentor Prunella collaris

    Webpage
    Avibase species account...
  • Alpine Accentor Prunella collaris

    Webpage
    Names, image and video
  • Alpine Accentor Prunella collaris

    Wiki
  • Altai Accentor Prunella himalayana

    Webpage
    Avibase species account...
  • Altai Accentor Prunella himalayana

    Webpage
    The IUCN Red Listing of the species Threatened Species status...
  • Altai Accentor Prunella himalayana

    Wiki
  • Arabian Accentor Prunella fagani

    Webpage
    Avibase species account...
  • Arabian Accentor Prunella fagani

    Wiki
  • Black-throated Accentor Prunella atrogularis

    Webpage
    Avibase species account...
  • Black-throated Accentor Prunella atrogularis

    Wiki
  • Brown Accentor Prunella fulvescens

    Webpage
    Sound recordings and distribution...
  • Brown Accentor Prunella fulvescens

    Wiki
  • Brown Accentor Prunella fulvescens

    Webpage
    Avibase species account...
  • Dunnock Prunella modularis

    Webpage
    Avibase species account...
  • Dunnock Prunella modularis

    Webpage
    Sound recordings and distribution map...,
  • Dunnock Prunella modularis

    Wiki
  • Dunnock Prunella modularis

    Webpage
    RSPB species account, image & UK distribution & status...
  • Japanese Accentor Prunella rubida

    Webpage
    Avibase species account...
  • Japanese Accentor Prunella rubida

    Webpage
    Species account with images and maps...
  • Japanese Accentor Prunella rubida

    Webpage
    Sound recordings and distribution map...
  • Japanese Accentor Prunella rubida

    Wiki
  • Kozlov's Accentor Prunella koslowi

    Webpage
    Sound recordings and distribution map...
  • Kozlov's Accentor Prunella koslowi

    Webpage
    Avibase species account...
  • Kozlov's Accentor Prunella koslowi

    Webpage
    Species account (French) & image...
  • Maroon-backed Accentor Prunella immaculata

    Webpage
    Avibase species account...
  • Maroon-backed Accentor Prunella immaculata

    Webpage
    IUCN Red List of Threatened Species status...
  • Maroon-backed Accentor Prunella immaculata

    Webpage
    Sound recordings and distribution map...
  • Maroon-backed Accentor Prunella immaculata

    Wiki
  • Radde's Accentor Prunella ocularis

    Webpage
    Avibase species account...
  • Radde's Accentor Prunella ocularis

    Wiki
  • Robin Accentor Prunella rubeculoides

    Wiki
  • Robin Accentor Prunella rubeculoides

    Webpage
    Sound recordings with distribution map...
  • Robin Accentor Prunella rubeculoides

    Webpage
    IUCN Red List of Threatened Species status
  • Robin Accentor Prunella rubeculoides

    Webpage
    Avibase species account...
  • Rufous-breasted Accentor Prunella strophiata

    Webpage
    Avibase species account...
  • Rufous-breasted Accentor Prunella strophiata

    Webpage
    IUCN Red List of Threatened Species status...
  • Rufous-breasted Accentor Prunella strophiata

    Webpage
    Sound recordings and distribution map...
  • Rufous-breasted Accentor Prunella strophiata

    Wiki
  • Siberian Accentor Prunella montanella

    Webpage
    Avibase species account...
  • Siberian Accentor Prunella montanella

    Webpage
    IUCN Red List of Threatened Species status
  • Siberian Accentor Prunella montanella

    Webpage
    Sound recordings and distribution
  • Siberian Accentor Prunella montanella

    Wiki
Number of Species
  • Number of bird species: 13

Useful Reading
Other Links
  • Abundance and Breeding Ecology of Brown Accentors Prunella fulvescens in Lhasa, Tibet

    Article
  • Dunnock Prunella modularis

    Article
    Food Distribution and a Variable Mating System in the Dunnock, Prunella modularis...
  • Dunnock Prunella modularis

    Facebook Page
Photographers & Artists
  • Alpine Accentor - Prunella collaris

    Gallery
  • Alpine Accentor Prunella collaris

    Video
  • Altai Accentor Prunella himalayana

    Webpage
    Terrific Image + Gray-brown overall with orange streaks on the breast and a white throat bordered by a thin black outline. Similar to Alpine Accentor, but darker and more extensively streaked. A common inhabitant of rocky alpine plateaus, meadows, and mountain slopes. Typically forages singly, but is often found in high numbers around campsites and towns where they scrounge for scraps.
  • Arabian Accentor Prunella fagani

    Gallery
  • Black-throated Accentor Prunella atrogularis

    Image
  • Brown Accentor Prunella fulvescens

    Webpage
    Excellent Image + POWERED BY MERLIN Listen +1 more audio recording A relatively plain bird of open areas with scattered thickets in alpine and subalpine regions. Well-marked but not striking: gray-brown above with a dark face, a snowy white eyebrow and belly, and a soft orange wash on the throat and breast.
  • Dunnock Prunella modularis

    Gallery
  • Dunnock Prunella modularis

    Video
  • Japanese Accentor Prunella rubida

    Video
  • Kozlov's (Mongolian) Accentor Prunella koslowi

    Webpage
    A very plain accentor of dry, open areas with sparse, scrubby vegetation. Patterning more closely resembles that of a lark or a pipit than another accentor: pale sandy brown all over with a paler belly and a finely streaked back. For an accentor, oddly shy and skulking, usually sticking to cover and infrequently vocalizing.
  • Maroon-backed Accentor Prunella immaculata

    Image
  • Radde's Accentor Prunella ocularis

    Video
  • Robin Accentor Prunella rubeculoides

    Video
  • Rufous-breasted Accentor Prunella strophiata

    Webpage
    Superb Image + Brightly-colored accentor which combines the head pattern of Black-throated Accentor with the orange breast of Robin Accentor. Bright orange breast and eyebrow are striking, contrasting sharply with the white throat and streaked brown back.
  • Siberian Accentor Prunella montanella

    Webpage
    Great Image + The Siberian accentor is a small passerine bird that breeds in northern Russia from the Ural Mountains eastwards across Siberia.

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