About Prunella himalayana (Blyth, 1842)
Prunella himalayana, commonly called the Altai accentor, is a relatively large species within the accentor family. Adults measure 15 to 15.5 centimeters in total length. This bird has a gray head, a white throat bordered by black spots, and a chestnut-brown back and mantle marked with dark streaks. Its upperparts are a paler shade of brown. The wings are rusty brown and feature two distinct white wing bars. The underside of the bird is white, with rusty red spots visible on the breast and flanks. During the breeding season, the Altai accentor lives in mountainous areas. Its breeding range stretches from southern Russia (starting at the Altai and extending east to the mountains east of Lake Baikal) and northwestern Mongolia, and reaches southward to the Tien Shan, Pamir, and northeastern Afghanistan. In the non-breeding season, this species occurs in the Himalayas, with confirmed records extending east at least as far as Bhutan.
