Black-throated Munia
Lonchura kelaarti
The only munia in its range that is found only close to forests. Male is black on face, throat, and center of breast; crown to lower back is brown with whitish shaft streaks. Female is much like male, but often more spotted on rump. Juvenile is unmarked brown above and lacks the distinct black on the face and breast. Birds in Sri Lanka have more scaly underparts, while Indian birds have buff flanks and lower breast. Found in forest edges, grasslands, gardens in the hills, and tea plantations across all altitude belts.
Identification
The black-throated munia or Jerdon's mannikin (Lonchura kelaarti) is a small passerine bird. This estrildid finch is a resident breeding bird in the hills of southwest India, the Western Ghats, Eastern Ghats and Sri Lanka.
Taxonomy
Genus: Lonchura; Family: Estrildidae; Order: Passeriformes.
- Scientific name
- Lonchura kelaarti
- Authority
- (Jerdon, 1863)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Estrildidae
- Genus
- Lonchura
Range and habitat
The black-throated munia is a small gregarious bird which feeds mainly on seeds. It frequents open hill woodland and cultivation. The nest is a large domed grass structure in a tree or creepers on a house into which 3-8 white eggs are laid in India, and usually five in Sri Lanka.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: stable.
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
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Mottled Berryhunter
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A medium-sized bird of montane forest interior on New Guinea. Brown with pale mottling on the underparts and light streaking on the head and back. Rusty cheek, under the base of the tail and edging to the wing. Males in the east are more grayish and much less strongly patterned. Somewhat similar to Spotted Berrypecker, but Mottled Berryhunter is larger. Song, a short, up-and-down whistled phrase.
White-throated Shrike-Tanager
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Large, long-tailed tanager with heavy hooked bill. Striking plumage is reminiscent of an oriole: yellow body with black head, black wings, white throat, and white shoulder patch. Female brown with paler throat and yellow belly. Note especially bill shape and habitat. Found in forests, usually at moderate heights, often in pairs leading a mixed-species flock.
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