Scaly-breasted Munia, new for Leyte but which sub-species? (Philippines) (1 Viewer)

[Valéry Schollaert]

Since October I'm based in Ormoc, island of Leyte (Philippines). I've seen about 30 species not listed for the island in Kennedy (Birds of the Philippines); most are though known by local birdwatchers.

I've found Scaly-breasted Munias breeding around Ormoc, in sugarcane. They also join Chestnut Munias in rice fields and groups of 30+ are common. This species is not listed on Leyte by any of HBW, Avibase or Kennedy. It is now known by local birdwatchers, so it looks like a real new.

However, I've experience of Lonchura punctulata cabanisi from Palawan and our bird here have different breast pattern, more "arrow"-like marks (while cabanisi has more rounded spots); the upperparts are also much greyer (more rufous in cabanisi).

So my question is: can we identify the subspecies? Of course, we dont know if the species came naturally or was introduced, so everything possible. However, it doesn't seem that locals have munias in captivity (they rather hate them as they eat rice) and I've the feeling it is a natural population.

Any comments or advice will be appreciated, thanks!

(the photo in the tree is from Palawan to show L. p. cabanisi and compare with the other photo, a bird taken on Leyte).

 

[RafaelMatias]

I was checking Munias & Mannikins (Restall 1996) and to my eyes, the bird from Leyte matches nicely the illustration there for L. p. cabanisi (extent and shade of brown on throat, exact feather pattern on the underparts, bill colour, absence of golden outer tail feathers etc).
Interestingly, again to my eyes, the bird you photographed in Palawan (the one in the tree) doesn't look like cabanisi, but as L. p. blasii (which occurs in Flores, Timor and the Lesser Sundas). I'm attaching the relevant images from Restall (Google preview... unfortunately I don't have the book, so no access to main text) so that you can say what you think of it. Were they introduced to Palawan?

 

[Valéry Schollaert]

I was checking Munias & Mannikins (Restall 1996) and to my eyes, the bird from Leyte matches nicely the illustration there for L. p. cabanisi (extent and shade of brown on throat, exact feather pattern on the underparts, bill colour, absence of golden outer tail feathers etc).
Interestingly, again to my eyes, the bird you photographed in Palawan (the one in the tree) doesn't look like cabanisi, but as L. p. blasii (which occurs in Flores, Timor and the Lesser Sundas). I'm attaching the relevant images from Restall (Google preview... unfortunately I don't have the book, so no access to main text) so that you can say what you think of it. Were they introduced to Palawan?

Thanks so much Rafael. I've not access to all books here, and my internet is limited, so your help is really nice!

I thought a second that actually my Palawan bird might have been something else than cabanisi because I've other photos from there and they look more like Leyte birds!

It occurs naturally in Palawan according to all references. The bird I have in photo can be a vagrant or an escapee! Indeed, checking my photos in details, indeed, I've only ONE individual like this. I didn't realize directly because I've seen it many times, it was breeding near my hotel in Puerto Princesa (it was my first munia on the country!); but now I understand it. It was paired with a seemingly "normal" cabanisi (attached).

So on Leyte are cabanisi as one could expect, and I've a unidentified individual on Palawan. Not bad o

Thanks again! :t: