23-4-2014 JALON, ALICANTE - ALPINE ACCENTOR (Prunella collaris)

                 

The Alpine accentor, Prunella collaris, is a small, robust passerine bird, slightly larger than the familiar dunnock. It measures 15–17.5 cm in length and is characterized by a streaked brown back, reminiscent of a house sparrow. The adult's head is a distinguished grey, with red-brown spotting adorning the underparts. Its bill is finely pointed, befitting its insectivorous diet. Both sexes are similar in appearance, though males may exhibit more pronounced contrasts. Juveniles can be identified by their browner heads and underparts.

When observing the Alpine accentor, look for its robin-sized stature and the distinctive grey head of the adults. The red-brown spotting on the underparts is a key feature, along with the streaked brown back. The fine pointed bill is another identifying characteristic of this species.

This bird favors the bare mountainous areas, where low vegetation provides a sparse cover. It thrives at altitudes above 2,000 meters.

The Alpine accentor is native to the mountain ranges of southern temperate Europe, parts of Lebanon, and Asia. It is generally a resident bird, but during winter, it may descend to lower altitudes and latitudes. Occasionally, some individuals may wander far from their usual range, turning up as rare vagrants in places like Great Britain.

The Alpine accentor is known for its unique social structure, forming breeding groups that consist of several unrelated males and females. These groups exhibit a polygynandrous mating system, where both sexes may mate with multiple partners. Dominance hierarchies exist among males, with alpha males typically being older and more dominant than subordinates.

Nesting low in bushes or rock crevices, the Alpine accentor lays 3–5 unspotted sky-blue eggs. The breeding groups, consisting of multiple males and females, share complex mating and parental care behaviors. DNA fingerprinting has revealed mixed paternity within broods, though each female is the true mother of her nestlings. Males provide care to chicks in various nests, depending on their likelihood of being the true fathers. 

 

                          

It builds a neat nest low in a bush or rock crevice, laying 3–5 unspotted sky-blue eggs.

The mating system is of particular interest. Home ranges are occupied by breeding groups of 3 or 4 males with 3 or 4 females. These are unrelated birds which have a socially polygynandrous mating system. Males have a dominance hierarchy, with the alpha males being generally older than subordinates. Females seek matings with all the males, although the alpha male may defend her against matings from lower ranking males. In turn, males seek matings with all the females. DNA fingerprinting has been used to show that, within broods, there is often mixed paternity, although the female is always the true mother of the nestlings raised within her nest. Males will provide food to chicks at several nests within the group, depending on whether they have mated with the female or not – males only provide care when they are likely to be the true fathers of the chicks.

It is found throughout the mountains of southern temperate Europe, Lebanon and Asia at heights above 2,000 m (6,600 ft). It is mainly resident, wintering more widely at lower latitudes, but some birds wander as rare vagrants as far as Great Britain.

It is a bird of bare mountain areas with some low vegetation.