Accentor | |
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Dunnock (Prunella modularis) | |
Scientific classification![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Passeriformes |
Family: | Prunellidae Richmond, 1908 |
Genus: | Prunella Vieillot, 1816 |
Type species | |
Motacilla modularis Linnaeus, 1758 | |
Species | |
See text. | |
Synonyms | |
Laiscopus |
Theaccentors are agenus ofbirds in the familyPrunellidae, which isendemic to theOld World.[1] This small group of closely relatedpasserines are all in the genusPrunella. 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. These birds are not stronglymigratory, but they will leave the coldest parts of their range in winter and makealtitudinal movements.[2]
The genusPrunella was introduced by the French ornithologistLouis Vieillot in 1816 with thedunnock (Prunella modularis) as thetype species.[3][4] Although the genus is usually used for all the accentors, thealpine accentor andAltai accentor are sometimes separated into the genusLaiscopus.[5]
Harrison[6] used the group namedunnock for all of the species, not justPrunella modularis (thus e.g.Japanese dunnock forP. rubida); this usage is based on the oldest known name for any of the species (old Englishdun-, brown, + -ock, small: "little brown bird"[7]).Accentor derives from the old scientific name for the Alpine accentor (Accentor collaris). It comes fromLate Latin, meaning "sing with another" (ad + cantor).[8] The genus namePrunella is from the GermanBraunelle, "dunnock", a diminutive ofbraun, "brown".[9]
These are small, fairly drab species superficially similar, but not closely related to,sparrows. They are 14 to 18 cm in length, and weigh between 25 and 35 g.[2] 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.[5][10]
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.[10]
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.[5][2] 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.[5]
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 theHimalaya and the Altai and Robin accentors at 5,500 m (18,000 ft);[5] however, most accentors breed in scrub vegetation at lower levels. Most species arealtitudinal 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.[5] Accentors spend the majority of their time in the undergrowth and even when flushed, stay low to the ground until reaching cover.[5]
Twelve species are currently accepted:[11]