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Natural Images |
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Alpine accentor...Prunella collaris...Acentor Alpino |
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The Alpine accentor breeds in Spain above 1800 metres in rocks, damp meadows.
The nearest breeding population to the Sierra de Grazalema is to be found on the Sierra Nevada around 250 KM to the East.
Moving to lower altitudes during the winter months they can be found in the Grazalema area.
We have seen them regularly at the “puerto de las Palomas” and on the peak of “Torreon” during November, December and January. |
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Dominic Couzens in his excellent Collins Birds "A Complete guide to British and European species" notes the unusually randy breeding behaviour of the alpine accentor:
"Alpine Accentors live in polygynandrous groups of 3-6 males and 3-5 females, in which there is a competitive free-for-all. The dominant males in each group attempt to monopolise access to as many female as possible, as in the Dunnock's social system. To protect their paternity the males copulate with great frequency, perhaps a hundred times a day, an their testes, to cope with the strain, may constitute 8 per cent of the body weight. Copulation is exceedingly rapid, lasting only 0.15 seconds, but it is aided by the male having a large sperm duct that hangs down as a sac and may be activated simply by contact with the female. Within the hierarchy, high-ranking females frequently interrupt the copulations of low-ranking ones, preventing any 'contract being signed' and thereby monopolising the males' charms and later parental assistance for themselves."
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