Rufous-breasted accentor facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rufous-breasted accentor |
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| From Lungthu (~11,000 ft) in Sikkim, India. | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Prunella
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| Species: |
strophiata
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The rufous-breasted accentor (Prunella strophiata) is a small passerine bird, also known as a songbird. It belongs to the Prunellidae family. This bird is special because it is only found in the Himalayas mountain range.
During the cold winter months, these birds move to lower, warmer areas. You can find them in countries like Afghanistan, Bhutan, Tibet, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan. Their favorite place to live is in temperate forests.
Contents
About the Rufous-breasted Accentor
The Rufous-breasted accentor is a small, shy bird. It has a reddish-brown chest, which is how it got its name. These birds are often seen hopping around on the ground. They look for food among rocks and bushes.
They are known for their quiet songs. You might hear them singing from a hidden spot. These birds are very good at blending into their surroundings. This helps them stay safe from predators.
Where They Live
The Rufous-breasted accentor lives high up in the Himalayas. This is a huge mountain range in Asia. They prefer areas with forests and open spaces. These birds like places that are cool and have lots of trees.
In winter, they fly down to lower parts of the mountains. This helps them find food and stay warm. They return to higher altitudes when spring arrives.
Discovering the Species
The Rufous-breasted accentor was first described in 1843. An English zoologist named Edward Blyth gave it its scientific name. He studied a bird he found in Nepal. He named it Accentor strophiatus.
The word strophiatus comes from a Latin word. It means "breast-band," which describes the bird's chest markings. Later, the bird was placed in the genus Prunella. This group was created by a French bird expert, Louis Pierre Vieillot, in 1816.
Different Types of Rufous-breasted Accentors
There are two main types, or subspecies, of the Rufous-breasted accentor:
- P. s. jerdoni: This type lives in eastern Afghanistan and the western Himalayas. It was identified by William Edwin Brooks in 1872.
- P. s. strophiata: This is the original type. It lives in the central and eastern Himalayas. You can also find it in central China and northern Myanmar. This type was described by Edward Blyth in 1843.
