| י 378) סתרי צוקים | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
:סתרי צוקים | . הגדול בכ 25% מבין הסתריים . דומה לסתרי מצוי, אך גדול וצבעוני ממנו . גרונו הלבן מנוקד בנקודות שחורות וצפופות, ולצידי גופו פספוס ערמוני הבולט למרחוק . בזמן מעופו בולטים פסי הכנף הלבנים וקצה זנבו הבהיר , בית גידולו משתרע על פני הרים גבוהים, מהרי הפירנאים, האלפים והאטלס בדרום . דרך הרי הטרוס ועד להימליה בדרום מזרח . מקום חיותו מדרונות סלעים וטרשים מעוטי צמחיה . בארץ מבקר חורף לא מצוי בהרים שבצפון הארץ
Subspecies and Distribution.
| P. c. collaris N-W Africa and W-C Europe, to Italy, N Yugoslavea, and Carpathian mountains. P. c. subalpina S-E Europe from Croatia, S Serbia, and Bulgaria, to Greece and Crete, also S Asia Minor east to at least C Taurus. P. c. montana N-E Turkey, Caucasus, Iran and Turkmeniya. P. c. rufilata Afganistan, Pamirs, and Tien Shan. P. c. whymperi Himalayas from Kashmir to Kumaon. 3-6 further races in C-E Asia. םםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםם םםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםם
Descriptive notes.
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18 cm, 40 g, wingspan 30-33 cm. Larger and much more robust than any other accentor. Quite strong billed, bulky, with form somewhat recalling lark or pipit. Plumage patterned as Hedge Accentor but more colorful, being basically dull blue-grey, with mottled brown back, white-edged black panel across forewing, white-speckled throat, rufous-splashed flanks, and white-tipped dark brown tail. Sexes similar, little seasonal variation. Habitat. breeds exclusively in mountain ranges of middle latitudes, from 1800 m up to snow line, in some places up to 4000 m. Encounters accordingly low temperatures and exposed conditions, although apparently choosing sunniest available site. Patches of alpine grassland strewn copiously with boulders or large stones, often on flat plateaux but sometimes on slopes or scree, and almost always well above tree line and relatively free of shrub growth. Food and Feeding. Diet based on insects, plus significant proportion of plant seeds. Food taken principally on ground, bird moving with quick small hops or walking quietly. Sometimes makes aerial sallies and will chase active prey on foot. Can hover for short periods Breeding. May-Jul in Pyrenees and Alps. Nest site in crevice in cliff or rocks, or between boulders. Nest, loosely made of grass, leaves and stems, with neat inner cup of moss lined with hair and feathers. 3-4 eggs, sub-elliptical, smooth and glossy, uniform pale blue. Incubation 14-15 days by both sexes. Movements. Resident or subject to local altitudinal or more distant movements. Most descend in winter below snow line or seek snow-free patches. Wintering in lowland southern Europe apparently wide spread though birds presumably sparsely distributed and occurrences perhaps irregular, but no details available. Status and Conservation. Not globally threatened. No evidence of range changes. Israel. In Israel subspecies P. c. subalpina rare winter visitor in northern Israel, in high mountainous regions.
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