Brown accentor explained

The brown accentor (Prunella fulvescens) is a species of bird in the family Prunellidae. It is found in Afghanistan, China, India, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.

Their natural habitat is Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation. They breed between 3,300–5,100 meters of altitude.^[1] They prefer drier habitats than other accentors.^{[2] [3]}

Description

They can be identified by their white supercilium (broader behind the eye), blackish-brown mask, blackish-brown ear-coverts, yellowish breast, and yellowish belly. Males are larger than females.^[4]

Mating and Breeding

They are mostly monogamous, but polyandry has also been recorded. They are territorial during the breeding season, which begins in late May. They lay clutches of 3-4 eggs from late June to late July, which female brown accentors incubate for 12-14 days. Then, males and females feed nestlings for 13-15 days, with females performing the majority of the feeding.

Diet

Adults eat seeds, fruits, and insects. Nestlings have only been observed eating insects.

Notes and References

1. Sharma, Puja, and Gunjan Arora. "Brown Accentor Prunella fulvescens, a new species for Uttarakhand, and a review of its status in the Himalaya."
2. Ali, S., & ripley, S. D., 2001. Handbook of the birds of India and Pakistan together with those of Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka (Flowerpeckers to Buntings). 2nd ed. Delhi: (Sponsored by Bombay Natural History Society.) Oxford University Press [Oxford India Paperbacks.]. Vol. 10 of 10 vols. Pp. 2 ll., pp. i–xviii, 1–250, 1 l., 2 ll.
3. Rasmussen, P. C., & Anderton, J. C., 2012. Birds of South Asia: the Ripley guide. 2nd ed. Washington, D.C. and Barcelona: Smithsonian Institution and Lynx Edicions. 2 vols. Pp. 1–378; 1–683.
4. Huang . Ji . Liu . Jinlong . Li . Guopan . Yan . Han . Li . Shaobin . 2020-04-02 . Breeding biology and mating system of Brown Accentors Prunella fulvescens on the Tibet Plateau . Bird Study . 67 . 2 . 232–238 . 10.1080/00063657.2020.1811201 . 0006-3657.