English: Alpine Accentor, Collared Accentor, Rock Accentor
Russian: Альпийская завирушка
Mongolian: Тагийн хайруулдай
German: Alpenbraunelle
French: Accenteur alpin
Japanese: イワヒバリ (Iwa-hibari)

Body length: 15-17 ½ cm

Breeds in high alpine country, usually at 1800-3000m. Found mostly in barren areas with boulders and low-growing plants. Rather sociable, and small groups can be seen even during breeding season. Largely resident. Food mostly insects and seeds. Nests in rock crevice.

Identification: When walking in the right terrain and one or more Skylark-sized, compact and rather dark birds fly up, the alternatives are few: Alpine Accentor, Horned Lark, Water Pipit or some bunting. Of these, Alpine Accentor is the strongest flyer, fast and in shallow dips almost like a small thrush. If seen perched, it shows light yellow patch at bill-base, a dark panel across wing formed by the greater coverts and, in good light, heavy red-brown flank streaking. At really close range, some pale spotting is visible on throat-centre and fine white tips on wing-coverts. Variation: Birds in Turkey (ssp. montana) are somewhat more pale brown and less heavily streaked above.