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Scaly-breasted Munia

Lonchura punctulata

Least Concern
Commonly known as the Spice Finch, this small, seed-eating bird is a gregarious and found mostly across South and South-East Asia.
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Visual Identification

Appearance

The Scaly-breasted Munia is a small, plump finch with distinctive scale-like markings on its breast and belly. Its upper parts are rich brown, contrasting with the white and dark brown scaly pattern below. The head is uniformly brown, the tail is short and dark, the legs are grey, and the conical bill is dark.

Both sexes look similar, with juveniles appearing paler and lacking the scaly breast pattern. During the breeding season, adults' bills darken slightly, but overall plumage remains consistent year-round.

There are 12 sub-species of Scaly-breasted Munias, which slightly differ in the colour of their plumage and size.

Size

Length

11cm to 12cm

Wingspan

16cm to 18cm

Weight

12g to 16g

Colours

Males and females have similar plumage

Primary Colour

Brown White

Secondary Colour

Black

Beak Colour

Grey

Leg Colour

Grey

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Scaly-breasted Munia can be found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Scaly-breasted Munia is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Scaly-breasted Munia is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Scaly-breasted Munia is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Scaly-breasted Munia can be found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Scaly-breasted Munia can be found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Scaly-breasted Munia can be found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Scaly-breasted Munia is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Scaly-breasted Munia is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Scaly-breasted Munia is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Scaly-breasted Munia is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Scaly-breasted Munia is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Native to tropical and subtropical Asia, the Scaly-breasted Munia inhabits a wide range of open habitats. These include grasslands, scrublands, agricultural areas, and urban parks and gardens. They are particularly common in areas with tall grasses and near water sources.

The species has been introduced to many parts of the world, including the West Indies, Hawaii, Florida, California, and parts of Australia. In these areas, they have adapted well to urban and suburban environments, often seen in parks and backyards.

Elevation Range

Up to 2,000 meters

Climate zones

Tropical, Subtropical

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Scaly-breasted Munia. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

  • Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
  • Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
  • This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

  • More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
  • How birds move around during different seasons
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Behaviour and Ecology

Bird Attributes

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Bird Attributes Explained

Our bird attributes system rates various aspects of a bird's capabilities on a scale of 0-100, based on data from field observations, scientific studies, and expert knowledge.

Attribute Categories:
  • Agility: Manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.
  • Strength: Physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.
  • Adaptability: Ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.
  • Aggressiveness: Territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.
  • Endurance: Stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

Understanding the Ratings:

  • 0-20: Very Low
  • 21-40: Low
  • 41-60: Average
  • 61-80: High
  • 81-100: Very High

Remember, these attributes are relative to other bird species and don't necessarily indicate superiority.

Tap the icon next to each attribute for more information.

Agility 75

Agility

Reflects the bird's manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.

The Scaly-breasted Munia demonstrates considerable agility with its quick, jerky hops during ground foraging and ability to burst into sudden flight when alarmed. Their adeptness in navigating dense vegetation for nesting also suggests good manoeuvrability.

Strength 30

Strength

Indicates the bird's physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.

As a small finch weighing only 12-16 grams, the Scaly-breasted Munia has limited strength relative to larger birds. However, they possess sufficient strength for their size to construct large, domed nests and forage effectively.

Adaptability 85

Adaptability

Represents the bird's ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.

These birds show remarkable adaptability, thriving in a wide range of habitats from natural grasslands to urban parks. Their success in establishing feral populations in various countries and ability to utilise both wild and cultivated food sources further demonstrate their adaptiveness.

Aggressiveness 25

Aggressiveness

Measures the bird's territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.

Scaly-breasted Munias are generally non-aggressive, preferring to live in social flocks. While they may defend nesting sites, there's no evidence of significant aggressive behaviour towards other species or amongst themselves.

Endurance 60

Endurance

Reflects the bird's stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

Their ability to forage actively and breed year-round in most of their range suggests good endurance for their size. The species' success in various climates and elevations up to 2000 metres also indicates decent stamina, though as small birds, their overall endurance is naturally limited.

Diet

Scaly-breasted Munias primarily feed on small seeds from grasses and other plants. They supplement their diet with berries and insects, especially during breeding season. They have a particular fondness for those of Lantana. Not so commonly, they are also known to eat household scraps.

These birds often forage in rice fields and other cultivated areas, sometimes considered agricultural pests in parts of their range. usually this takes place in large groups outside of the breeding season, and smaller social flocks during.

Behaviour

Scaly-breasted Munias are highly social birds, often seen in flocks of 10 to 60 individuals. They forage on the ground, moving with quick, jerky hops.

When alarmed, the flock will burst into flight, emitting sharp contact calls before resettling nearby.

Vocalisation

The Scaly-breasted Munia's vocalisations consist of soft, musical chirps and twitters. Their most common call is a gentle 'kit-kit-kit' or 'tit-tit-tit'. The song of is a succession of whistles followed by a long 'weee'.

During courtship, males produce a quiet, warbling song that sounds like 'chee-chee-chee-cheewee-cheewee'.

Nesting & Breeding

Scaly-breasted Munias breed year-round in most of their range, with peak activity during local rainy seasons. Pairs form strong bonds and often remain together for multiple breeding seasons.

The nest is a large, domed structure made of grass stems and leaves, typically placed in dense vegetation or small trees. The female lays 4-6 white eggs in each clutch.

Both parents share incubation duties for about 14 days. Chicks fledge after 18-21 days but may remain with their parents for several weeks after leaving the nest.

Conservation and Status

Global Conservation Status

Least Concern [1]

The Scaly-breasted Munia is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN due to its large range and stable population. However, habitat loss in some areas and trapping for the pet trade pose localised threats.

Conservation efforts focus on maintaining suitable grassland and woodland habitats.

Population Data

Global Population Estimate

Not quantified, but abundant in its range

Global Population Trend

[2]

Trend data may be uncertain or fluctuating

Birdwatching Tips

  • Look for flocks in grassy areas, especially near water sources
  • Listen for their soft, musical chirping and twittering
  • Observe their distinctive scaly breast pattern through binoculars
  • Check bird feeders in urban and suburban areas, as they readily visit these

Additional Information

Quick Facts

Other names:

Nutmeg Finch, Nutmeg Mannikin, Nutmeg Munia, Ricebird, Scaly-breasted Mannikin, Spice Finch, Spice Munia, Spice Bird, Spotted Mannikin, Spotted Munia, Barred Munia, Mascot Finch

Family:

Estrildidae

Average Lifespan

6 to 8 years

Predators

Main predators include domestic cats, snakes, hawks, and owls. In urban areas, they are also vulnerable to window collisions.

Did You Know?

  1. Scaly-breasted Munias are popular cage birds and have established feral populations in many countries due to escapes and releases.
  2. They often bathe in shallow water, fluffing their feathers and splashing enthusiastically.
  3. In some parts of Asia, these birds are considered good luck and are released during ceremonies.
  4. They are known to form flocks with up to as many as 100 birds and roost communally.

References

  1. 1 2

    website: BirdLife International. 2016. Lonchura punctulata. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T22719821A94646304.

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