Common name: Radde’s Accentor
Scientific name: Prunella ocularis
Family: Prunellidae

Size:
Body length: 13–15 cm
Wingspan: 21–24 cm
Weight: 20–30 g

Identification:
A small, ground-dwelling passerine with warm brown upperparts and fine dark streaking on the back. It shows a distinctive pale eye-ring and a greyish head and underparts, often with subtle rufous tones on the flanks. Its overall coloration provides excellent camouflage against rocky terrain, and it typically appears compact with a relatively thin bill adapted for picking small prey.

Habitat:
Rocky mountain slopes, high-altitude wadis, and barren hillsides with sparse vegetation. It favors dry, stony environments where it can remain well concealed among rocks and low shrubs.

Status in the UAE:
Scarce passage migrant. Occasionally recorded in mountainous regions such as Jebel Jais during migration periods.

Diet:
Omnivorous — feeds mainly on insects, larvae, and small invertebrates, as well as seeds, especially outside the breeding season.

Behavior:
Secretive and often difficult to detect, spending much of its time foraging on the ground or moving quietly between rocks. It may flick its wings or tail subtly and tends to stay low, relying on camouflage rather than flight to avoid detection.

Conservation status:
Least Concern (IUCN Red List)