BirdUp · Species
Scaly-breasted Munia
Lonchura punctulata(Linnaeus, 1758)
Updated
- Order
- PASSERIFORMES
- Family
- Estrildidae
- Genus
- Lonchura
At a glance
The Scaly-breasted Munia is a tiny bird, about 9–12 cm long, native to Australia. It can be seen year-round.
- Size
- 9–12 cm
- Origin
- Native
- Best seen
- Year-round
- Commonness
- Very common
01 · Identification
How to tell it apart
What does a Scaly-breasted Munia look like?
The Scaly-breasted Munia is a tiny bird, about 9–12 cm long and weighing 12–16 g.
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
03 · When
When to look
When can you see a Scaly-breasted Munia?
The Scaly-breasted Munia is present across its Australian range year-round, so it can be seen in any month.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
05 · Behaviour
Habits and haunts
What does a Scaly-breasted Munia eat?
The Scaly-breasted Munia feeds on seeds, usually foraging in flocks.
06 · Gallery
Plumage up close
6 photos
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