Scaly-breasted Munia

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Scaly-breasted Munia
Conservation status
Least Concern
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Estrildidae Genus: Lonchura Species: L. punctulata
Binomial name
Lonchura punctulata (Linnaeus, 1758)

The Scaly-breasted Munia, Lonchura punctulata also known as Nutmeg Mannikin or Spice Finch is a small passerine bird. This estrildid finch is a resident breeding bird in tropical southern Asia from India and Sri Lanka east to Indonesia and the Philippines.

Contents 1 Habitat 2 Characteristics 3 References 4 External links

[edit] Habitat

The Scaly-breasted Munia is a small gregarious bird which feeds mainly on seeds. It frequents open woodland and cultivation. The nest is a large domed grass structure in a tree or under the eaves of a house into which 4–10 white eggs are laid.

[edit] Characteristics

The Scaly-breasted Munia is 11–12cm in length. The adult has a stubby dark bill, brown upperparts and darker brown head. The underparts are white with black scale markings. The sexes are similar, but immature birds have pale brown upperparts, lack the darker head and have uniform buff underparts.

[edit] References

• BirdLife International (2004). Lonchura punctulata. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 12 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
• Birds of India by Grimmett, Inskipp and Inskipp, ISBN 0-691-04910-6
• BirdLife Species Factsheet

[edit] External links

• Spice Finch (Scaly-breasted Munia) Species Profile
• Damier commun (Lonchura punctulata) Faune de La Réunion