Siberian Accentor

The Siberian Accentor is a small passerine bird that is normally found in Asia and eastern Europe.  There, they breed in the northern reaches of Russia and winter in southeast Asia.  In North America, they are rare vagrants.  Most North American records are of migrating birds on islands in the Bering sea, but records have also occurred on the mainland in Alaska, in western Canada, and even as far south as Idaho, Washington state, and Montana.

Habitat: Found in open habitats in northern Russia during the summer breeding season, particularly in mountainous areas above treeline, or along the edges of open boreal forest.

Diet: Feeds heavily on insects and spiders during the summer months.  In winter, may also feed on seeds, fruits, and berries.

Behavior: Mostly forages by moving along the ground in search of ground-dwelling insects. 

Nesting: Builds a cup-shaped nest built of sticks and grasses, placed in relatively thick shrubbery, usually relatively close to the ground.  The female lays 3 or 4 eggs.

Song: Song of the Siberian Accentor is a pleasant twittering warble, relatively high in pitch.  The call is a mellow "ti-ti-ti-ti".

Migration: Migratory, with breeding occurring in Siberia, both east and west of the Ural Mountains.  Winters in southeast Asia, with nearly all wintering birds in either China or Korea.

Interactive eBird map: Click here to access an interactive eBird map of Siberian Accentor sightings

Conservation Status: Populations of the species are widespread, and are stable in most locations.  The IUCN lists the Siberian Accentor as a species of "Least Concern". 

Further Information: 1) British Trust for Ornithology - Siberian Accentor

2) BirdLife International - Siberian Accentor

3) Whatbird.com- Siberian Accentor

Photo Information: Image is public domain, from the book Naturgeschichte der Vögel Mitteleuropas (Natural History of the Birds of Central Europe), published in 1905.

 

Click below for a higher-resolution map

South Dakota Status: Non-resident in South Dakota

Additional Siberian Accentor Photos (coming soon!!)