Lonchura
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| Chestnut-breasted munia Lonchura castaneothorax | |
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| Genus: | Lonchura Sykes, 1832
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Lonchura is a genus of the estrildid finch family, and includes munias (or minias), mannikins, and silverbills. They are resident breeding birds in Africa and in South Asia from India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka east to Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and the Philippines. Two of the approximately thirty-seven species are also native to Australia. The name mannikin is from Middle Dutch mannekijn 'little man' (also the source of the different bird name manakin).[1]
Some of the Lonchura species were formerly placed in Spermestes. Others have been placed in a genus of their own, Euodice.
Characteristics
They are small gregarious birds which feed mainly on seeds, usually in relatively open habitats, preferring to feed on the ground or on reeds of grasses. Several species have been noted to feed on algae such as Spirogyra.[2][3]
The nest is a large domed grass structure into which four to ten white eggs are laid. Some species also build communal roosting nests for overnight rest.
The species in this genus are similar in size and structure, with stubby bills, stocky bodies and long tails. Most are 10–12 cm in length. Plumage is usually a combination of browns, black and white, with the sexes similar, but duller and less contrasted for immature birds.
The similarities within this group and the existence of subspecies with differing vocalisations and plumage mean that some races may be elevated to species status. African and Indian silverbill are now usually considered distinct species, and the two races of black-throated munia are often also split.
The munias are popular in the bird trade and many freed or escaped birds have formed feral colonies in different pockets across the world.
The red munia Amandava amandava and green munia Amandava formosa also take the name munia, but are in the genus Amandava.
Species
- Madagascan mannikin, Lonchura nana
- Bronze mannikin, Lonchura cucullata also known as bronze munia
- Grey-headed mannikin, Lonchura caniceps
- Black-and-white mannikin, Lonchura bicolor also known as black-and-white munia
- Red-backed mannikin, Lonchura nigriceps also known as brown-backed munia
- Magpie mannikin, Lonchura fringilloides also known as magpie munia
- White-rumped munia, Lonchura striata
- Javan munia, Lonchura leucogastroides
- Dusky munia, Lonchura fuscans
- Black-faced munia, Lonchura molucca
- Black-throated munia, Lonchura kelaarti also known as Jerdon's mannikin
- Scaly-breasted munia, Lonchura punctulata also known as nutmeg mannikin or spice finch
- White-bellied munia, Lonchura leucogastra
- Streak-headed mannikin, Lonchura tristissima
- Chestnut munia, Lonchura atricapilla
- Tricoloured munia, Lonchura malacca
- White-capped munia, Lonchura ferruginosa
- Cream-bellied munia, Lonchura pallidiventer
- Five-coloured munia, Lonchura quinticolor
- White-headed munia, Lonchura maja
- Pale-headed munia, Lonchura pallida
- Great-billed mannikin, Lonchura grandis
- Grey-banded mannikin, Lonchura vana
- Grey-crowned mannikin, Lonchura nevermanni
- Hooded mannikin, Lonchura spectabilis
- Hunstein's mannikin, Lonchura hunsteini
- Forbes's mannikin, Lonchura forbesi
- New Hanover mannikin, Lonchura nigerrima
- Yellow-rumped mannikin, Lonchura flaviprymna
- Chestnut-breasted mannikin, Lonchura castaneothorax
- Black mannikin, Lonchura stygia
- Black-breasted mannikin, Lonchura teerinki
- Western alpine mannikin, Lonchura montana
- Eastern alpine mannikin, Lonchura monticola
- Buff-bellied mannikin, Lonchura melaena
- Timor sparrow, Lonchura fuscata
- Java sparrow, Lonchura oryzivora
Notes
- ^ New Oxford American Dictionary (2nd ed., 2005), p. 1032.
- ^ Pillai, N. G. 1968 The green algae, Spirogyra sp., in the diet of the White-backed Munia, Lonchura striata (Linn.). J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 65: 490-491
- ^ Avery, Michael L. (1980) Diet and breeding seasonality among a population of sharp-tailed munias, Lonchura striata in Malaysia. The Auk 97(1):160-166
References
- Birds of India by Grimmett, Inskipp and Inskipp, ISBN 0-691-04910-6
- Birds of The Gambia by Barlow, Wacher and Disley, ISBN 1-873403-32-1