Chestnut Munia (Lonchura atricapilla)

OTHER NAMES: Southern Black Headed Munia, Black-headed Nun, Black-headed Mannikin
Latin Etymology: Lonchura ("spear-head tail) atricapilla ("black haired")

Two adult Chestnut Munia (subspecies L. a. deignani) at Florican Grasslands, Cambodia - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: L. a. deignani
Weight: 9g  /  Length: 11-12cm  /  Wingspan: 10-15cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Chestnut munia is a distinctive looking finch like bird of South East Asia; once considered a subspecies of the Tricoloured Munia, it has now been separated into it's own species.  Despite the finch like appearance, it is a closer relation of sparrows; the large crushing bill is a case of convergeant evolution to suit a seed eating diet.  At one point it was the national bird of the Philippines before being replaced with the Philippine Eagle.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Estrildidae
Genus: Lonchura
SUBSPECIES: L. a. atricapilla, L. a. deignani, L. a. sinensis, L. a. batakana, L. a. formosana, L. a. jagori, L. a. obscura, L. a. selimbauensis, L. a. brunneiceps

 - Sighting Locations -

CAMBODIA - Khmer - ចាបចង្ក្រង់ក្បាលខ្ (?)

 A resident

SINGAPORE / CAMBODIA 2019 TRIP - Two seen at Florican Grassland Reserve

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto