Black-throated Accentor

Taxobox
name = Black-throated Accentor
status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo = Passeriformes
familia = Prunellidae
genus = "Prunella"
species = "P. atrogularis"
binomial = "Prunella atrogularis"
binomial_authority = (Brandt, 1844)

The Black-throated Accentor , "Prunella atrogularis", is a small passerine bird found across temperate and subarctic Asia. It is migratory, wintering in India and other parts of southern Asia. It is a rare vagrant in western Europe.

The Black-throated Accentor builds a neat nest low in spruce thickets, laying 3-5 unspotted blue eggs. It winters in scrub or cultivation.

This is a Dunnock-sized bird, 13.5-14 cm in length. It has a streaked dark brown back, somewhat resembling a House Sparrow, but adults have a black crown, face patch and throat, and a white supercilium. The breast is orange, and the belly white with orange stripes. Like other accentors, this species has an insectivore's fine pointed bill.

Sexes are similar, but winter birds and juveniles are less contrasted. In particular, the dark throat may be almost absent in young birds.

The call is a fine "ti-ti-ti", and the song is similar to the Dunnock’s pleasant twittering.

References

* Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern