Streak-headed Mannikin

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Streak-headed Mannikin
Conservation status
Least Concern
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Estrildidae Genus: Lonchura Species: L. tristissima
Binomial name
Lonchura tristissima (Wallace, 1865)

The Streak-headed Mannikin Lonchura tristissima, also known as the Streak-headed Munia, and including the White-spotted Mannikin (L. t. leucosticta), is a small (10 cm in length) estrildid finch.

Contents 1 Identification 2 Call 3 Distribution 4 Habitat 5 Food 6 Breeding 7 Conservation 8 References

[edit] Identification

Mainly dark brown plumage with light streaking on head and yellowish rump; subspecies leucosticta also with white spotting on face, breast and upper wing-coverts.

[edit] Call

Short buzzing note, repeated in flight.

[edit] Distribution

Endemic to New Guinea and some adjacent islands. It has been recorded from Saibai Island, Queensland, Australian territory in north-western Torres Strait.

[edit] Habitat

Grassy fringes of streams, forest clearings and abandoned gardens with secondary growth, in lowland New Guinea up to 1,000 m altitude.

[edit] Food

Seeds, berries and insects.

[edit] Breeding

Globular grass nest with side entrance, often suspended from rattans, in forest or at forest edge.

[edit] Conservation

As a species with a large range and no evidence of population decline, it is assessed as being of Least Concern.

[edit] References

• Beehler, Bruce M.; & Finch, Brian W. (1985). Species Checklist of the Birds of New Guinea. RAOU Monograph No.1. Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union: Melbourne. ISBN 0-9599823-2-9
• Beehler, Bruce M.; Pratt, Thane K.; & Zimmerman, Dale A. (1986). Birds of New Guinea. Wau Ecology Handbook No.9. Princeton University Press. ISBN 0-691-02394-8
• BirdLife International (2006) Species factsheet: Lonchura tristissima. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 3 Feb 2007
• Coates, Brian J. (1990). The Birds of Papua New Guinea. Vol.II: Passerines. Dove Publications: Alderly, Queensland. ISBN 0-9590257-1-5