White-rumped Munia
Lonchura striata
The only munia in its range with white on the lower back and rump. It has a blackish-brown head and back with pure white underparts and rump. Its back is finely streaked with pale shafts. Juvenile is rufous-brown with indistinct streaks above, rump buffy gray, breast light rufous, and underparts buffy gray. Races differ in the amount of white-and-gray streaking on the underparts and the extent of the blackish-brown on the head. Found in a variety of open landscapes including grasslands, shrubby open country, forest edges, thickets, plantations, village gardens, agricultural fields, and sometimes towns and cities.
Identification
The white-rumped munia is approximately 10 to 11 cm in length, with a stubby grey bill and a long black pointed tail. The adults are brown above and on the breast, and lighter below; the rump is white. There is some variation between the subspecies, but the sexes are almost impossible to distinguish in all subspecies; males have a more bulky head and bill.
Taxonomy
In 1760 the French zoologist Mathurin Jacques Brisson included a description of the white-rumped munia in his Ornithologie based on a specimen that he believed had been collected from the Isle de Bourbon (Réunion). The specimen is now assumed to have come from Sri Lanka. He used the French name Le gros-bec de l'Isle de Bourbon and the Latin Coccothraustes Borbonica. Although Brisson coined Latin names, these do not conform to the binomial system and are not recognised by the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature. When in 1766 the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus updated his Systema Naturae for the twelfth edition, he added 240 species that had been previously described by Brisson. One of these was the white-rumped munia. Linnaeus included a brief description, coined the binomial name Loxia striata and cited Brisson's work. The specific name striata is Latin for "striated ". This species is now placed in the genus Lonchura that was introduced by the English naturalist William Henry Sykes in 1832.<p>There are six subspecies:<p>A domesticated hybrid called the society finch, sometimes called Lonchura domestica is said by some sources to have L. s. striata in its ancestry, although other theories suggest contributions from the white-throated munia. The hybrid with numerous variants in plumage are thought to have been established by aviculturists in Japan.
- Scientific name
- Lonchura striata
- Authority
- (Linnaeus, 1766)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Estrildidae
- Genus
- Lonchura
Range and habitat
The white-rumped munia is a common resident breeder ranging from the Indian subcontinent to southern China east to Taiwan, and through Southeast Asia south to Sumatra; it frequents open woodland, grassland and scrub, and is well able to adapt to agricultural land use. It is a gregarious bird which feeds mainly on seeds, moving through the undergrowth in groups and sometimes accompanying other birds such as puff-throated babblers (Pellorneum ruficeps). The nest is a large domed grass structure in a tree, bush or grass into which three to eight white eggs are laid. They are also known to use abandoned nests of Baya weaver. They are often found near water and have been observed feeding on algae. It has been suggested that they obtain protein from their diet of algae often in the species Spirogyra, which grows in paddy fields.<p>It is a common and widespread bird across its large range, and is thus not considered a threatened species by the IUCN. In fact, it may locally become a nuisance pest of millets and similar grains. Even the Nicobar Islands subspecies with its limited range seems to be able to cope well with human settlement. As it is a drab-coloured and rather reclusive bird inhabiting dense undergrowth, the white-rumped munia is not necessarily conspicuous even where it occurs in considerable numbers.
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Wedge-tailed Eagle
Aquila audax
A very large, dark eagle with massive beak; often conspicuous due to large size. In flight, identified by very long diamond-shaped tail. Soars high, occasionally in groups, often over mountainous terrain. Frequently feeds on roadkill. Perches on telephone poles and dead trees. Young birds are more golden, and get progressively darker with age.
Black-headed Bunting
Emberiza melanocephala
Large, stocky bunting. On breeding males, the combination of a black head, a bright yellow collar, yellow underparts, and rusty-brown back is unmistakable. The black on the face of nonbreeding males is restricted to the patch around the eyes forming a “bandit’s mask.” Female is plain brown overall with a pale yellowish wash on the vent and traces of yellow on the rump. Extremely similar to female Red-headed Bunting; best to use a combination of various details to separate the two, with the Red-headed Bunting having a yellower rump and belly, a more noticeably streaked crown, and a bulkier bill than Black-headed Bunting. Breeds in open forests, edges, and patchily planted areas like orchards and gardens. Winters in farmland. Song is a rather lacklustre series of buzzy notes. Calls are varied and include sparrowlike chirps and high thin “tseep’s.”
Ashy-headed Green-Pigeon
Treron phayrei
The silvery-gray crown of this green pigeon is diagnostic, but can be difficult to see when the bird perches high in the canopy. Adult male is green with an orange chest, dark cinnamon shoulders, and a bright orange patch under the tail. Female is more predominantly green without any orange. Both sexes have the silver crown, black wing tips, and intricate yellow markings on the flight feathers. Gives rather high-pitched whistling coos, generally to the rhythm of “wa-whee-wah-woo”. Strongly favors lowland forests; rare to locally uncommon in foothills.
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