Prunella immaculata
The Maroon-backed Accentor, *Prunella immaculata*, is a captivating and often elusive songbird of the Himalayan and Southeast Asian mountains. Measuring approximately 14-15 cm (5.5-6 inches) in length, it is characterized by its striking plumage: a dark, slaty-gray head, a rich maroon-chestnut back that gives the species its name, and heavily streaked, yellowish-buff flanks contrasting with a paler belly. Its relatively slender, pointed bill and dark legs are also distinctive field marks, tho...
Found primarily in dense undergrowth of subalpine and alpine coniferous or mixed forests, rhododendron thickets, and scrublands, often near streams. Occurs at high elevations, typically between 2,500 and 4,500 meters (8,200-14,800 feet).
Primarily insectivorous during the breeding season, consuming a variety of small invertebrates such as beetles, ants, and larvae. During colder months or when insects are scarce, their diet shifts to include small seeds and berries, foraged mainly by gleaning from the ground and low vegetation.
Maroon-backed Accentors are generally shy and secretive birds, spending most of their time foraging on the ground or within dense vegetation. They are diurnal, with activity concentrated in the early morning and late afternoon, often roosting hidden within thickets. Foraging involves meticulously...
The Maroon-backed Accentor is native to the majestic mountains of South and Southeast Asia. Its breeding range extends across the Himalayas, encompassing northern India (from Uttarakhand eastward), Nepal, Bhutan, and southeastern Tibet and Sichuan provinces of China. It also breeds in northern My...
Least Concern
- Despite their common name, accentors are not closely related to true sparrows or finches; they belong to their own unique family, Prunellidae. - The Maroon-backed Accentor's scientific name, *Prunella immaculata*, literally means 'unspotted little brown bird', referring to the typical lack of s...