The accentors are in the only bird family, the Prunellidae. This small group of closely related passerines are all in a single genus Prunella. This genus is not strongly migratory, but they will leave the coldest parts of their range in winter, and make altitudinal movements.
Only the Siberian Accentor Prunella montanella strays from Asia to Alaska in North America.
These are small, fairly drab species superficially similar, but unrelated to, sparrows; they are generally regarded as being related to the thrushes or the warblers. Accentors have thin sharp bills, reflecting their diet of ground-dwelling insects in summer, augmented with seeds and berries in winter. They may also swallow grit and sand to help their stomach break up these seeds.
Their typical habitat is mountainous regions in an area far above the tree-line, but below the snow-line. Accentors spend the majority of their time in the undergrowth and even when flushed, stay low to the ground until reaching cover.
