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Difference between revisions of "Scaly-breasted Munia" - BirdForum Opus

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'''Also known as: Nutmeg Mannikin, Spice Finch, Spotted Munia'''
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[[Image:Scaly_breasted_munia1.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Nominate subspecies<br />Photo &copy; by {{user|vinaydarbal|vinaydarbal}}<br />Mysore , [[India]], 19 June 2010]]
[[Image:Scaly_breasted_munia1.jpg|thumb|500px|right|Nominate subspecies<br />Photo by {{user|vinaydarbal|vinaydarbal}}<br />Mysore , [[India]]]]
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'''Alternate names: Nutmeg Mannikin, Spice Finch, Spotted Munia'''
 
;[[: Category:Lonchura|Lonchura]] punctulata
 
;[[: Category:Lonchura|Lonchura]] punctulata
 
==Identification==
 
==Identification==
[[Image:scaly_breasted_munia_alok.JPG|thumb|350px|right|Nominate subspecies female and male mixed group<br />Photo by {{user|aloktewari|Alok Tewari}}<br />Dist. Gurgaon, Haryana, [[India]], Jan-2015]]
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[[Image:Scaly-breasted_Munia.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Subspecies ''L. p. cabanisi''<br />Photo &copy; by {{user|Romy+Ocon|Romy Ocon}}<br />UP-Diliman, Quezon City, [[Philippines]], 8 April 2006]]
12 cm (in)<br />
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10–12&frac12; cm (4-5 in)<br />
'''Adult''': both sexes identical with cinnamon-brown back and head, at least sometimes with darker face and throat. The breast and the rest of the underside is mostly white with each feather showing narrow borders and stripes in brown producing a scaly pattern. There seems to be variation (individual? geographic?) as to whether the scaly effect comes on gradually or at an abrubt line at the base of the throat (See the images in the gallery using the link below).<br />
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'''Adult''': both sexes identical with cinnamon-brown back and head, at least sometimes with darker face and throat. The breast and the rest of the underside is mostly white with each feather showing narrow borders and stripes in brown producing a scaly pattern. Pattern varies with the subspecies.  Sometimes scales are single, sometimes doubled on each feather.  Also varies in extent of scaling in the throat area. <br />
'''Juvenile''' is slightly lighter than the adult on the back, while the underside is buffy, gradually lighter towards undertail coverts and lacking in the scaly effect.<br />
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'''Juvenile''' is slightly lighter than the adult on the back, while the underside is buffy, gradually lighter towards undertail coverts and lacking in the scaly effect. Bill is black in both adult and juveniles.
Bill is black in both adult and juveniles.  
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====Similar Species====
 +
Juveniles are similar to juvenile [[Chestnut Munia]], but distinguished by Scaly-breasted's black rather than bluish bill.
 +
 
 
==Distribution==
 
==Distribution==
The natural distribution is from [[Nepal]] through [[India]] and [[Sri Lanka]] and east from there through [[China]] and the far east to [[Philippines]] and [[Indonesia]]. In addition, this species is common in the pet trade, and has generally established populations that spreads from wherever escapes have happened. They are therefore present along the east coast of [[Australia]], the [[Caribbean]] and the [[USA]], just to mention a few of the locations where they have been introduced.  
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The natural distribution is from [[Nepal]] through [[India]] and [[Sri Lanka]] and east from there through [[China]] and the far east to [[Philippines]] and [[Indonesia]].
 +
 
 +
In addition, this species is common in the pet trade, and has generally established populations that spreads from wherever escapes have happened. They are therefore present along the east coast of [[Australia]], the [[Caribbean]] and the [[USA]], just to mention a few of the locations where they have been introduced.  
 
==Taxonomy==
 
==Taxonomy==
 
Twelve subspecies share the original range. Birds in the pet trade are unlikely to come from any single subspecies, so introduced populations likely represent a mixture; even so, birds in Australia and the Caribbean do not look identical.  
 
Twelve subspecies share the original range. Birds in the pet trade are unlikely to come from any single subspecies, so introduced populations likely represent a mixture; even so, birds in Australia and the Caribbean do not look identical.  
 
====Subspecies====
 
====Subspecies====
[[Image:Scaly-breasted_Munia.jpg|thumb|300px|right|Subspecies ''L. p. cabanisi''<br />Photo by {{user|Romy+Ocon|Romy Ocon}}<br />UP-Diliman, Quezon City, [[Philippines]], April 2006]]
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[[Image:Nutmeg15a.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Subspecies ''nisoria''<br />Photo &copy; by {{user|ammadoux|ammadoux}}<br />[[Bali]], [[Indonesia]], 29 June 2018]]
 
There are 12 subspecies<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>:
 
There are 12 subspecies<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>:
 
*''L. p. punctulata'': [[Nepal]] to Sikkim, [[India]] and [[Sri Lanka]]
 
*''L. p. punctulata'': [[Nepal]] to Sikkim, [[India]] and [[Sri Lanka]]
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==Habitat==
 
==Habitat==
 
Lowland open areas with seeding grass. Has been observed at heights around 900m (3000 ft) on the approach to the [[Himalayas]] in Himachal Pradesh.
 
Lowland open areas with seeding grass. Has been observed at heights around 900m (3000 ft) on the approach to the [[Himalayas]] in Himachal Pradesh.
 
 
==Behaviour==
 
==Behaviour==
 
 
Normally occur in flocks.
 
Normally occur in flocks.
 
====Diet====
 
====Diet====
 
Their main diet consists of grass seeds and rice grains.
 
Their main diet consists of grass seeds and rice grains.
 
====Breeding====
 
====Breeding====
[[Image:Scaly-breasted_Munia_(juv.)_by_paux_IMG_9390ra.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Subspecies ''L. p. topela'' Juvenile<br />Photo by {{user|paux|paux}}<br />Long Valley, [[Hong Kong]], October 2012]]
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[[Image:Scaly-breasted_Munia_(juv.)_by_paux_IMG_9390ra.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Subspecies ''L. p. topela'' Juvenile<br />Photo &copy; by {{user|paux|paux}}<br />Long Valley, [[Hong Kong]], 4 October 2012]]
Nesting can occur at any time of the year if conditions are favourable, and the nest is normally found at moderate height in a tree.  
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Nest is a loosely constructed ball with a low side entrance.  Outside made of flowering grass heads, leaves and twigs.  Internal chamber lined with fine grass. Occasionally will use old nest of another bird. Clutch is 3-6 eggs with larger clutches suspected of being the result of two or more females laying in the same nest. Nesting can occur at any time of the year if conditions are favourable, and the nest is normally found at moderate height in a bush or tree.  
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====Vocalisation====
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{{ Audio|scaly-breasted_munia_call_alok.mp3 }}
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''[[Media: scaly-breasted_munia_call_alok.mp3|Scaly-breasted Munia sound clip]]''<br />
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Recording by {{user|aloktewari|Alok Tewari}}<br />
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Gurgaon Rural, Haryana, [[India]] January-2015<br />
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A flock sitting on dry Acacia branches making faint calls and flies away.
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The communication calls were very faint. They were made while sitting and also when birds flew away.
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====Movements====
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Mostly resident with local movements in response to ripening grain.
 +
 
 +
==Gallery==
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Click on photo for larger image
 +
<gallery>
 +
Image:scaly_breasted_munia_alok.JPG|Nominate subspecies adult and young mixed group<br />Photo &copy; by {{user|aloktewari|Alok Tewari}}<br />Dist. Gurgaon, Haryana, [[India]], 13 January 2015
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Image:Filtered Img13036 a - Copy .JPG|Subspecies ''L. p. fretensis''<br />Photo &copy; by {{user|jweeyh|jweeyh}}<br />[[Singapore]], 13 June 2017
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</gallery>
 
==References==
 
==References==
[[Image:Filtered Img13036 a - Copy .JPG|thumb|350px|right|Subspecies ''L. p. fretensis''<br />Photo by {{user|jweeyh|jweeyh}}<br />[[Singapore]], June 2017]]
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#{{Ref-Clements6thAug19}}#Payne, R. (2020). Scaly-breasted Munia (''Lonchura punctulata''). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from https://www.hbw.com/node/61187 on 28 January 2020).
#{{Ref-Clements6thAug17}}#Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved June 2017)
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#Clement, P., A. Harris, and J. Davis. 1993. Finches and Sparrows: An Identification Guide. Princeton Univ. Press, Princeton, N. J.
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#Pratt, H.D., Bruner, P., and Berrett, D.G. (1987) A Field Guide to the Birds of Hawaii and the Tropical Pacific. Princeton University Press.
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#Pyle, R.L., and P. Pyle. 2017. The Birds of the Hawaiian Islands: Occurrence, History, Distribution, and Status. B.P. Bishop Museum, Honolulu, HI, U.S.A. Version 2 (1 January 2017) http://hbs.bishopmuseum.org/birds/rlp-monograph/
 
{{ref}}
 
{{ref}}
 +
 
==External Links==
 
==External Links==
{{GSearch|Lonchura+punctulata}}
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{{GSearch|"Lonchura punctulata" {{!}} "Scaly-breasted Munia" {{!}} "Nutmeg Mannikin" {{!}} "Spice Finch" {{!}} "Spotted Munia"}}
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{{GS-checked}}1
 
<br />
 
<br />
{{Video|Nutmeg_Mannikin Use "Nutmeg Mannikin"}}
 
 
<br />
 
<br />
{{Video|Scaly-breasted_Munia}}
 
  
[[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Lonchura]] [[Category:Videos]]
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[[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Lonchura]] [[Category:Bird Songs]]

Latest revision as of 21:53, 25 April 2023

Nominate subspecies
Photo © by vinaydarbal
Mysore , India, 19 June 2010

Alternate names: Nutmeg Mannikin, Spice Finch, Spotted Munia

Lonchura punctulata

Identification

Subspecies L. p. cabanisi
Photo © by Romy Ocon
UP-Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines, 8 April 2006

10–12½ cm (4-5 in)
Adult: both sexes identical with cinnamon-brown back and head, at least sometimes with darker face and throat. The breast and the rest of the underside is mostly white with each feather showing narrow borders and stripes in brown producing a scaly pattern. Pattern varies with the subspecies. Sometimes scales are single, sometimes doubled on each feather. Also varies in extent of scaling in the throat area.
Juvenile is slightly lighter than the adult on the back, while the underside is buffy, gradually lighter towards undertail coverts and lacking in the scaly effect. Bill is black in both adult and juveniles.

Similar Species

Juveniles are similar to juvenile Chestnut Munia, but distinguished by Scaly-breasted's black rather than bluish bill.

Distribution

The natural distribution is from Nepal through India and Sri Lanka and east from there through China and the far east to Philippines and Indonesia.

In addition, this species is common in the pet trade, and has generally established populations that spreads from wherever escapes have happened. They are therefore present along the east coast of Australia, the Caribbean and the USA, just to mention a few of the locations where they have been introduced.

Taxonomy

Twelve subspecies share the original range. Birds in the pet trade are unlikely to come from any single subspecies, so introduced populations likely represent a mixture; even so, birds in Australia and the Caribbean do not look identical.

Subspecies

Subspecies nisoria
Photo © by ammadoux
Bali, Indonesia, 29 June 2018

There are 12 subspecies[1]:

  • L. p. punctulata: Nepal to Sikkim, India and Sri Lanka
  • L. p. subundulata: North-eastern India (Assam) to Bhutan and western Myanmar
  • L. p. yunnanensis: North-eastern Myanmar and south-western China
  • L. p. topela: Southern China to northern Thailand, Indochina, Hainan and Taiwan
  • L. p. cabanisi: Philippines (Luzon, Mindoro, Panay, Cebu, Calauit and Palawan)
  • L. p. fretensis: Southern Thailand and Malay Peninsula to Sumatra and adjacent islands
  • L. p. nisoria: Java, Bali, Lombok and Sumbawa
  • L. p. sumbae: Sumba (Lesser Sundas)
  • L. p. blasii: Flores, Timor, Tanimbar Islands and adjacent Lesser Sundas
  • L. p. particeps: Sulawesi
  • L. p. baweana: Bawean Island (Java Sea)
  • L. p. holmesi: Southeast Borneo (Kalimantan)

Habitat

Lowland open areas with seeding grass. Has been observed at heights around 900m (3000 ft) on the approach to the Himalayas in Himachal Pradesh.

Behaviour

Normally occur in flocks.

Diet

Their main diet consists of grass seeds and rice grains.

Breeding

Subspecies L. p. topela Juvenile
Photo © by paux
Long Valley, Hong Kong, 4 October 2012

Nest is a loosely constructed ball with a low side entrance. Outside made of flowering grass heads, leaves and twigs. Internal chamber lined with fine grass. Occasionally will use old nest of another bird. Clutch is 3-6 eggs with larger clutches suspected of being the result of two or more females laying in the same nest. Nesting can occur at any time of the year if conditions are favourable, and the nest is normally found at moderate height in a bush or tree.

Vocalisation

Scaly-breasted Munia sound clip
Recording by Alok Tewari
Gurgaon Rural, Haryana, India January-2015
A flock sitting on dry Acacia branches making faint calls and flies away. The communication calls were very faint. They were made while sitting and also when birds flew away.

Movements

Mostly resident with local movements in response to ripening grain.

Gallery

Click on photo for larger image

References

  1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, S. M. Billerman, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2019. The eBird/Clements Checklist of Birds of the World: v2019. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
  2. Payne, R. (2020). Scaly-breasted Munia (Lonchura punctulata). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from https://www.hbw.com/node/61187 on 28 January 2020).
  3. Clement, P., A. Harris, and J. Davis. 1993. Finches and Sparrows: An Identification Guide. Princeton Univ. Press, Princeton, N. J.
  4. Pratt, H.D., Bruner, P., and Berrett, D.G. (1987) A Field Guide to the Birds of Hawaii and the Tropical Pacific. Princeton University Press.
  5. Pyle, R.L., and P. Pyle. 2017. The Birds of the Hawaiian Islands: Occurrence, History, Distribution, and Status. B.P. Bishop Museum, Honolulu, HI, U.S.A. Version 2 (1 January 2017) http://hbs.bishopmuseum.org/birds/rlp-monograph/

Recommended Citation

External Links

GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1

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