Black-throated Munia

Taxobox
name = Black-throated Munia
status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo = Passeriformes
familia = Estrildidae
genus = " Lonchura "
species = "L. kelaarti"
binomial = "Lonchura kelaarti"
binomial_authority = (Jerdon, 1863)

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 Eastern Ghats and Sri Lanka.

ubspecies

The endemic Sri Lankan subspecies, "L. k. kelaarti " is sometimes considered to as a separate species distinct from "L. k. jerdoni" of the Western Ghats of India.

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.

Characteristics

The Black-throated Munia is 12cm in length with a long black tail. The adult of the south Indian has a stubby grey bill, dark brown upperparts and blackish head, breast and wings. "L. k. kelaarti " has pinkish underparts and rump, and "L. k. jerdoni " has barred black and white underparts and rump. The sexes are similar, but immature lack the darker head and have uniform underparts.

Commemoration

The binomial commemorates the zoologist Edward Frederick Kelaart and the name was given by Thomas C. Jerdon in 1863.

References

* Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
* "Birds of India" by Grimmett, Inskipp and Inskipp, ISBN 0-691-04910-6
* [ [http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/species/index.html?action=SpcHTMDetails.asp&sid=8708&m=0 BirdLife Species Factsheet]