Robin Accentor
Prunella rubeculoides
鸲岩鹨
Introduction
A species in the Prunellidae family, native to mountainous regions of Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan, and China. Inhabits altitudes between 3,000 and 5,500 meters (9,800 to 18,000 feet). Distinguished by its grey head and neck contrasting with brown upperparts and orange-red breast. Forages on the ground for insects and seeds. Non-migratory, resident above the tree-line but below the snowline. Conservation status: Least Concern due to stable populations across its wide range.
Description
A large accentor reaching approximately 17 cm (7 inches) in length. Sexes appear similar. The head and neck are grey, while the remaining upperparts are brown with black streaking. The throat is a uniform reddish-orange, contrasting with the pale buff belly. Wing coverts feature white tips. Possesses the slender, sharply-pointed beak characteristic of insectivorous birds. The call is a high trill or repeated 'tszi tszi', while the song is described as 'si-tsi-si-tsi-tsu-tsitsi'.
Distribution & Habitat
Found throughout the Himalayas from Pakistan through India, Bhutan, and Nepal, extending into western and central China including the Tibet Autonomous Region, Qinghai, Gansu, and Sichuan provinces. Also occurs in Afghanistan. Inhabits open grassland and scrub at elevations between 3,000 and 5,500 meters, typically in gullies containing streams. Non-migratory but may move to slightly lower elevations in winter, where it frequents stony areas near human settlements.
Behavior & Ecology
Primarily insectivorous but also consumes other invertebrates and seeds. Forages on the ground, often in small groups. Exhibits a polygynandrous mating system where females may mate with multiple males and males attempt to remove competing sperm before copulation. Breeding season spans May through August, with possibly two broods annually. The cup-shaped nest is constructed off the ground in tussock grass, bushes, or scrub. Clutch size is approximately four blue or green, unspeckled eggs.
Conservation
IUCN Red List assessment: Least Concern. The species has a wide distribution and remains common in parts of its range. No specific threats have been identified, and populations appear stable across its geographic distribution.
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0
Taxonomy
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Prunellidae
- Genus
- Prunella
- eBird Code
- robacc1
Subspecies (2)
-
Prunella rubeculoides muraria
northwestern Himalayas of northern Pakistan to Ladakh, and presumably Xinjiang
-
Prunella rubeculoides rubeculoides
western Himalayas eastward to central China
Data Sources
Species description from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Bird images and sounds sourced from GBIF, contributed by citizen scientists worldwide under Creative Commons licenses.
Taxonomy data from AviList 2025.