Alpine Accentor

Copyright: monacoeye • Alpes Maritimes, France • Dec Jan Feb 2009 2010 2011

Bird name: Alpine Accentor
Latin: Prunella collaris
Other: Accenteur Alpin (Fr) • Alpenbraunelle (De) • Acentor alpino (Es) • Sordone (It) • Ferreirinha-alpina (Pt)
Family: Prunellidae • Accentors
Range: Eurasia, N Africa above 2000m - Alps, Pyrenees, Sierra Nevada, Carpathians, Atlas etc. Winters at lower elevations, including near Monaco.
Similar: House Sparrow

There seem to be many Alpine Accentors about this year in the Alpes Maritimes, not far from the coast in the mountains.

The Alpine Accentor has yellow on the lower bill, black and white stippled throat, rufous streaking to sides of belly, line of white triangles on black on closed wings and greyish streaked upperparts. Overall a beautiful combination of subtle colouring and shades.

Alpine Accentors come to feeders in the mountains and seem extremely tame when they appear, perhaps used to receiving crumbs. They tend to hop around on the rocks or make short flights around a small area. Near Monaco this year there is a group of about six of them in one spot.










Alpine Accentors are well camouflaged against lichen-covered rocks in the winter.


When the Alpine Accentor stretches its neck the white patch becomes more visible.


The blue background behind the Alpine Accentor below is the Mediterranean Sea.