Chestnut Munia
Lonchura atricapilla
A small, plump reddish brown finch with a black head and thick silvery-blue bill. Immatures are plain sandy brown with slightly darker wings. Often seen in flocks, usually in grassy areas, including lawns, but also marshes and rice paddies; prefers wetter areas than Scaly-breasted Munia. Gives soft pipping and clinking notes; song includes quiet slurred whistles and bill clicks. Native to southeastern Asia, but introduced to numerous areas including the Hawaiian Islands, Japan, Ecuador, and Jamaica.
Identification
Small, sexes alike, races differ slightly in intensity of color. in jagori Ad whole head, breast center of belly, and undertail coverts black; back, wing, and sides of belly chestnut, brighter on underparts, duller on wings; uppertail coverts dark reddish brown, underpart buff; uppertail coverts and tail as ad. Bill silvery gray; eye chestnut; legs gray.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Lonchura atricapilla
- Authority
- (Vieillot, 1807)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Estrildidae
- Genus
- Lonchura
Range and habitat
The chestnut munia is a small gregarious bird which feeds mainly on grain and other seeds. It frequents open grassland and cultivation. The nest is a large domed grass structure in a bush or tall grass into which 4-7 white eggs are laid.
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Comoro Blue-Pigeon
Alectroenas sganzini
Medium-sized chunky pigeon that is dark blue with a pale gray hood. Appears short-tailed in flight. Found in rainforest, secondary habitat, and plantations, and locally in dry coastal scrub. Most common at higher elevations in most of its range. Most often seen perched up conspicuously on emergent trees, feeding on fruiting trees, or in flight in small flocks. The common vocalization is a quick series of low hoots or growls. Dark blue coloration and pale head separate it from all other pigeons in its range.
Bat Hawk
Macheiramphus alcinus
An acrobatic, swift-like raptor with angular wings and a massive gape; capable of snatching prey from the air and devouring it in a flash while still on the wing. Dark with varying amounts of white on the underside; African birds have patchy white throughout the underparts, while white is restricted to the throat and lower belly on New Guinean birds and solely to the throat in Southeast Asian birds. Inactive during the day; hunts at dawn and dusk, and occasionally into the night if light is sufficient. Generally uncommon and localized, most reliably encountered near large bat roosts in forested areas, but can also be seen over open forest, fields, and fringes of habitation.
Congo Moor Chat
Myrmecocichla tholloni
An unusual and distinctive Central African chat. Mostly gray-brown with a white throat, rump, and undertail and white wing patches that are conspicuous in flight. Found locally in grassland, usually in pairs or small groups. Hops along the ground or sits up on low perches. Structure and behavior similar to Sooty Chat, but gray-and-white plumage is completely different. The cheerful song alternates higher whistled notes and lower chirruping notes. This song is often given in a hovering display flight.
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