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 .

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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