Scaly-breasted Munia
Scaly-breasted Munia
Lonchura punctulata
At a Glance
Native to southern Asia, this small waxbill is a popular cagebird. Escapees from captivity have established wild populations in several parts of the world. The species is now widespread and common in coastal California, from San Jose to San Diego, and other local populations are established around Houston, Texas, at a few spots farther east along the Gulf Coast, and in southern Florida. Usually seen in flocks.
All bird guide text and rangemaps adapted from Lives of North American Birds by Kenn Kaufman© 1996, used by permission of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Category
Perching Birds
IUCN Status
Least Concern
Habitat
Fields, Meadows, and Grasslands, Freshwater Wetlands, Shrublands, Savannas, and Thickets
Behavior
Flitter
Range & Identification
Description
4 1/2" (11 cm). A tiny finch-like bird with a very thick, black bill. Adult is dark, rich brown on upperparts, head, and chest; lower breast and belly are heavily marked with scaly black feather edges on a white background. Juvenile is very plain brown and tan, known by its small size and heavy black bill.
Size
About the size of a Sparrow
Color
Black, Brown, Tan, White
Wing Shape
Rounded, Short
Tail Shape
Pointed, Short, Wedge-shaped
Songs and Calls
High whistles and twitters.
Call Type
Chirp/Chip, High, Twitter, Whistle
Habitat
Brushy, overgrown fields, woodland edges, and other dense low growth, often near water.
Sign up for Audubon's newsletter to learn more about birds like the Scaly-breasted Munia
Behavior
Eggs
3-5 eggs, white, unmarked. Incubation is by both sexes, about 14 days.
Young
Fed by both parents. Leave the nest after about 18 days.
Feeding Behavior
Forages in flocks, usually in dense low growth or on the ground. May climb along grass stems to reach seed heads.
Diet
Mostly seeds, also some berries and insects.