Tweeters,

There has been some discussion of the subspecific status of the Siberian
Accentor seen near Hailey Idaho this winter. Accentors are well known for their
propensity to from discernable subspecies due to their breeding on isolated
mountain ranges in Eurasia. The Alpine Accentor has 9 distinguishable
subspecies.

The Siberian Accentor has 2 subspecies: the nominate one _Prunella montanella
montanella_ and _P. m. badia_ . The nominate subspecies occurs in western
Eurasia and _P. m. badia_ in eastern Eurasia, making _badia_ the more likely one
to occur in North America, maybe.

The plumage differences are: _badia_ is darker overall, with a darker rusty and
gray back, and a more reddish brown upper breast; _badia_ also has a cinnamon
brown rump. The nominate subspecies has an olive gray rump. The best
illustrations I have found are: _P. m. badia_ Peterson Western Birds pg.355 and
_P. m. montanella_ John C. Pitcher in A Guide to the Birds of Alaska pg. 244
in 1st edition. I don't know what to think about Pratt's illustration in the
National Geographic Guide, pg. 333.

I have a strong suspicion as to which subspecies it is. I watched the bird for
about 15 minutes in good light, from all angles. I looked at the rump closely,
but did not get good pictures of the rump.

Those tweeters (and others) who saw the bird - what subspecies do you think it
is? Did anyone get good photos of the bird, especially its rump? Those out
there more knowledgeable than me about this species, have I characterized the
two subspecies accurately?

Why do Asian bird species migrate to North America? This bird apparently
migrated a similar distance as it would in Eurasia, just a few degrees off.
Did this bird simply get misoriented by 130 degrees or 90 degrees and fly off in
the wrong direction for the winter? Could this be one of the birds that
wintered in BC last year (a genetic propensity for misorientation). (I almost
banded the bird). I like Dave DeSante's mirror image misorientation theory.

Would anyone with a good photo of this bird please contact me, I'm working on
the first report of the Idaho Rare Birds Committee and therefore need the best
picture for the paper (not necessarily one of the birds rump).

alis volat propriis,
Dan







Dan Stephens (509) 664-2503
Dept. of Biology fax: (509) 664-2538
Wenatchee Valley College e-mail: dstephen at ctc.edu
1300 Fifth Street
Wenatchee, WA 98801