The Alpine Accentor is a songbird of high, rocky mountains in southern Europe, North Africa, and Asia, found at heights above about 6,600 ft (2,000 m). It does not live in North America. Its breeding life is unusual: small groups of males and females share a territory and mate with several partners.
Appearance
- Appearance
- About 5.9–7.1 in (15–18 cm) long. Gray head and breast, a brown back streaked like a House Sparrow's, rusty spotting and streaks on the flanks, and a fine, pointed bill. Young birds have browner heads.
Where it lives
- Typical habitats
- Rocky alpine slopes
- Bare mountain ridges
- Range
- Mountains of southern Europe, North Africa, Lebanon, and Asia east to China, Korea, Japan, and Taiwan.
- Seasonal presence
- Not found in the US
- Preferred conditions
- Bare mountain ground with some low plants. Mostly resident, but some move lower or farther south in winter.
Behavior
- Diet
- Insects, spiders, and other small invertebrates in summer; mostly seeds and berries in winter.
- Social life
- Breeding groups of three or four unrelated males and three or four females share a home range. Males have a pecking order, and broods often have more than one father.
Life cycle
- Nest
- A neat cup low in a bush or tucked into a rock crevice.
- Clutch size
- 3–5 unspotted sky-blue eggs
Conservation
- IUCN Red List
- LCLeast ConcernLow risk of extinction
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