From Opus

Lonchura punctulata

Photo by Romy Ocon
Photo taken: UP-Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines.

Also known as: Nutmeg Mannikin, Spice Finch, Spotted Munia.

[edit] Identification

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). 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.

[edit] 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 whereever escapes have happened. They are therefore present along the east coast of Australia, and in the Caribbean, just to mention a couple of locations where it has been introduced.

[edit] 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 does not look identical.

[edit] Habitat

Lowland open areas with seeding grass

[edit] Behaviour

Normally occur in flocks. Nesting can occur at any time of the year if conditions are favorable, and the nest is normally found at moderate height in a tree.

[edit] External Links