BirdUp · Species
Scaly-breasted Munia
Lonchura punctulata(Linnaeus, 1758)
- Order
- PASSERIFORMES
- Family
- Estrildidae
- Genus
- Lonchura
- Commonness
- Very common
- Best seen
- Year-round
01 · Identification
How to tell it apart
The scaly-breasted munia or spotted munia, known in the pet trade as nutmeg mannikin or spice finch, is a sparrow-sized estrildid finch native to tropical Asia. A species of the genus Lonchura, it was formally described and named by Carl Linnaeus in 1758. Its name is based on the distinct scale-like feather markings on the breast and belly. The adult is brown above and has a dark conical bill. The species has 11 subspecies across its range, which differ slightly in size and colour.
Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
02 · Where
Where to find it
- Breeding range
- OR, AU : north-east Afghanistan, India, Sri Lanka to east China, Taiwan, Philippines, Greater Sundas, Sulawesi and Lesser Sundas
03 · When
When to look
Months this species is recorded across its Australian range.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
05 · Behaviour
Habits and haunts
06 · Gallery
Plumage up close
6 photos
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