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 .

Red Avadavat (Amandava amandava)

OTHER NAMES: Strawberry Finch, Red Munia
Latin Etymology: Amandava (derived from city of Ahmedabad) amandava (from city of Ahmedabad)

Adult male Red Avadavat (subspecies A. a. punicea) at Florican Grasslands, Cambodia - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: Amandava amandava punicea
Weight: 7g  /  Length: 9.5cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

This is really a case where the alternate name feels like it belongs so much more than the actual one; this species looks as much like a strawberry as it's likely a bird can be: it's small, vaguely strawberry shaped and even has little flecks of white that make it look like it has strawberry seeds on it.  Perhaps because of this exotic appearance, it is a reasonably popular bird in captivity, which has lead to feral populations establishing themselves in various locations around the world as far away as Spain, Puetro Rico and Hawaii.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Estrildidae
Genus: Amandava
SUBSPECIES: A. a. amandava, A. a. flavidiventris, A. a. punicea 

 - Sighting Locations -

CAMBODIA - Khmer - ចាបមាស ឬចាបចង្ក្រង់ក្រហម ("Gold sparrow" or "red sparrow")

A resident

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

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

Scaly-breasted Munia (Lonchura punctulata)

OTHER NAMES: Nutmeg Mannikin, Spice Finch, Spotted Munia

Latin Etymology: Lonchura ("spearheaded") punctulata 

Adult Scaly-breasted Munia (subspecies L. p. fretensis) in Malacca, Malaysia - July 2016

Featured Subspecies: Lonchura punctuata fretensis
Weight: 12-16g  /  Length: 11-12cm  /  Wingspan: 20-25cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A distinctively patterned bird which gives it it's name, the Scaly-breasted Munia is a very widely distributed species with a range that covers all of South-East Asia and India, a substantial portion of China with some extra introduced populated in Australia, the US and certain islands around the world.  They have the powerful seed-eating beaks, similar to greenfinches in the UK.  Due to their ease of breeding in captivity, they are popular as cage-birds but have also been subject to extensive study.

Related Species:
ORDER: Passeriformes
FAMILY: Estrildidae
GENUS: Lonchura
SUBSPECIES: L. p. punctulata, L. p. subundulata, L. p. yunnanensis, L. p. topela, L. p. cabanisi, L. p. fretensis, L. p. nisoria, L. p. sumbae, L. p. blasii, L. p. particeps, L. p. baweana, L. p. holmesi 

 - Sighting Locations -

MALAYSIA - Malay - Pipit Pinang ("Areca Nut Sparrow")
A reasonably common resident of less built up areas.

 - MALAYSIA/SINGAPORE 2016 TRIP: Two adults seen in Malacca

SINGAPORE - A reasonably common resident of less built up areas.

 - MALAYSIA/SINGAPORE 2016 TRIP: Two birds seen in Ang Mo Kio
 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: A single dead bird seen in Ang Mo Kio

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

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Common Waxbill (Estrilda astrild)

OTHER NAMES: St Helena Waxbill

Latin Etymology: Estrilda (species specific name - unknown origin) astrild (species specific name)

Adult Common Waxbill (unknown subspecies) in El Rocio, Spain - November 2011

Featured Subspecies: Unknown - introduced population
Weight: 9g  /  Length: 10cm  /  Wingspan: 12-14cm
ABSENT FROM UK / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Common Waxbill is not native to Europe, but is rather an escapee that has established itself in Spain.  The species is otherwise resident in most of Sub-Saharan Africa.  The name "waxbill" apparently comes from the red beak - the colour of sealing wax is traditionally red.  I saw a small flock briefly in El Rocio, but they are apparently even present in Seville itself, and presumably even other parts of the country too.  It is one of the world's most popular cage birds which is presumably how they have managed to establish themselves.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Estrildidae
Genus: Estrilda
Subspecies: E. a. kempi, E. a. occidentalis, E. a. rubriventris, E. a. jagoensis, E. a. angolensis, E. a. niediecki, E. a. damarensis, E. a. pease, E. a. macmillani, E. a. adesma, E. a. minor, E. a. massaica, E. a. cavendishi, E. a. astrild, E. a. tenebridorsa

 - Sighting Locations -

SPAIN - Spanish - Pico de corál ("Coral Beak")

 A fairly common feral species locally.

 - SEVILLE 2011 TRIP: A small flock seen at El Rocio fleetingly

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