Dunnock or alpine accentor in Bulgarian mountains (1 Viewer)

J

jsab500

Active member

• Sep 13, 2017

• #1

Hi, just seen these in Pirin national park (today, 13/09/2017) in south west Bulgaria, at about 2100 m altitude. They may or may not be different birds. I thought at first that they were definitely apline accentors, due to the location and the yellow on the bill and that they didn't seem like the dunnocks I see every day, but then they don't seem to have the red-brown steaks, and it's not clear if the neck is barred or not (on the first two anyway). I didn't try to remember their calls, as I didn't think they could be dunnocks until now...

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Thanks a lot,
James

 

MTem

Well-known member

• Sep 13, 2017

• #2

They do look like Dunnocks to me.
They all lack the barred throat as you mention, and the two wing bars (although the latter get worn in late summer.) Alpine Accentors tend to have a stockier build from my experience of them in the Alps and Pyrenees.

 

Nutcracker

Stop Brexit!

• Sep 13, 2017

• #3

Yep, all Dunnocks. Also note the all-dark bill (yellow base on AA), and uniform wing (blackish panel on AA)

 

Scridifer

Used Registrar

Supporter

• Sep 13, 2017

• #4

We have a different subspecies here to that you have back home, which might explain your uncertainty James!

Chris

 

J

jsab500

Active member

• Sep 13, 2017

• #5

Thanks a lot, I'll keep looking!

 

Nutcracker

Stop Brexit!

• Sep 13, 2017

• #6

Not sure 2100 m is high enough, too; it's below the tree line in the Pirin. Try getting up to 2400 m or higher?