Lonchura


Lonchura is a genus of the estrildid finch family, and includes munias, 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'.
Some of the Lonchura species were formerly placed in Spermestes. Others have been placed in a genus of their own, Euodice.

Taxonomy

The genus Lonchura was introduced by the English naturalist William Henry Sykes in 1832. The type species was subsequently designated as the scaly-breasted munia. The name Lonchura combines the Ancient Greek words lonkhē "spear-head" or "lance" with oura "tail".

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.

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

The genus contains 35 species:
ImageCommon NameScientific nameDistribution
Bronze mannikin also known as bronze muniaLonchura cucullataAfrotropics.
Black-and-white mannikin also known as black-and-white muniaLonchura bicolorwestern and central Africa
Red-backed mannikin also known as brown-backed muniaLonchura nigricepsAngola, The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Somalia, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Magpie mannikin also known as magpie muniaLonchura fringilloidesSub-Saharan Africa.
White-rumped muniaLonchura striatathe Indian subcontinent to southern China east to Taiwan, and through Southeast Asia south to Sumatra
Javan muniaLonchura leucogastroidesSouthern Sumatra, Java, Bali and Lombok, Indonesia. Introduced in Singapore and S Malay Peninsula
Dusky muniaLonchura fuscansBorneo
Black-faced muniaLonchura moluccaIndonesia
Scaly-breasted munia also known as nutmeg mannikin or spice finchLonchura punctulataIndian Subcontinent, including Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka
Black-throated munia also known as Jerdon's mannikinLonchura kelaartisouthwest India, the Eastern Ghats and Sri Lanka.
White-bellied muniaLonchura leucogastraMalesia.
Streak-headed mannikinLonchura tristissimaNew Guinea
White-spotted mannikinLonchura leucostictaNew Guinea.
Five-colored muniaLonchura quinticolorLesser Sunda Islands.-
Tricolored muniaLonchura malaccaBangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, and southern China.
White-capped muniaLonchura ferruginosaJava and Bali-
Chestnut muniaLonchura atricapillaBangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Burma, Nepal, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam and Hawaii.
White-headed muniaLonchura majaIndonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
Pale-headed muniaLonchura pallidaIndonesia.
Great-billed mannikinLonchura grandisnorthern and eastern New Guinea.
Grey-banded mannikinLonchura vananorth-west Papua, Indonesia-
Grey-headed mannikinLonchura canicepsPapua
Grey-crowned mannikinLonchura nevermannisouthern New Guinea
Hooded mannikinLonchura spectabilisNew Britain and New Guinea.
Forbes's mannikinLonchura forbesiPapua New Guinea
Hunstein's mannikinLonchura hunsteiniNew Ireland and New Hannover.
Yellow-rumped mannikinLonchura flaviprymnaNorthern Territory, Australia
Chestnut-breasted mannikinLonchura castaneothoraxAustralia, New Caledonia, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea.
Black mannikinLonchura stygiaNew Guinea, Papua, Papua New Guinea.-
Black-breasted mannikinLonchura teerinkiWest Papua, Indonesia.
Eastern alpine mannikinLonchura monticolaPapua
Western alpine mannikinLonchura montanaNew Guinea
Buff-bellied mannikinLonchura melaenaNew Britain and Buka Island.
Timor sparrowLonchura fuscataTimor archipelago
Java sparrowLonchura oryzivoraJava, Bali and Bawean in Indonesia