Alpine accentor

The alpine accentor is a small bird belonging to the Prunellidae family. It was first described by Austrian naturalist Giovanni Antonio Scopoli in 1769. Today, it is classified under the genus Prunella, a name bestowed by French ornithologist Louis Vieillot in 1816. The term "accentor" intriguingly means "one who sings with another." There are nine recognized subspecies of this bird.

Comparable in size to a robin, the alpine accentor typically inhabits mountainous regions of southern temperate Europe, Lebanon, and Asia, primarily at elevations above 2,000 meters. Although it usually remains in these high-altitude areas, it descends to lower elevations during the winter months. The bird favors habitats featuring bare mountain terrain interspersed with low vegetation.

For breeding, the alpine accentor constructs its nest low in a bush or tucked into a rock crevice, where it lays 3-5 sky-blue eggs. Its mating system is notably unique, described as socially polygynandrous. This means that breeding groups consist of 3-4 males and an equal number of females. Within these groups, males establish a dominance hierarchy, and females mate with multiple males, while males also attempt to mate with multiple females. DNA studies have revealed that broods often have mixed paternity, but the female always raises her own chicks. Males contribute to feeding chicks in several nests within the group, particularly those where they are likely to be the biological fathers.