- Black-headed Munia
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Black-headed Munia 
Lonchura atricapilla jagori on Cebu, Philippines Conservation status Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Estrildidae Genus: Lonchura Species: L. atricapilla Binomial name Lonchura atricapilla
(Vieillot, 1807)The Black-headed Munia, Lonchura atricapilla (formerly considered as a subspecies of the Tricoloured Munia Lonchura malacca atricapilla) also known as Chestnut Munia, is a small passerine bird. This estrildid finch is a resident breeding bird in Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Burma, Nepal, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam and Hawaii. Known as maya pula ("red maya", to distinguish it from the predominantly brownish Tree Sparrow which is also called maya) in the Philippines, perhaps because of its brick red patch on the lower back that shows only when it flies. The Black-headed Munia is the former national bird of the Philippines (the Philippine national bird is now the Philippine eagle).[1]
Contents
Subspecies
The Black-headed Munia has several subspecies that are recognized as followed:
- Lonchura atricapilla atricapilla
- Lonchura atricapilla rubroniger
- Lonchura atricapilla sinensis
- Lonchura atricapilla formosana
- Lonchura atricapilla deignani
- Lonchura atricapilla brunneiceps
- Lonchura atricapilla jagori
- Lonchura atricapilla selimbauensis
- Lonchura atricapilla obscura
- Lonchura atricapilla batakana
Habitat
Adult
Black-headed Munia nest. Nest is dome-shaped; entrance/exit point is visibleThe Black-headed 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.
Characteristics
The Black-headed Munia is 11–12 cm in length. The adult has a stubby pale grey-blue bill, black head, and brown body, with a brick red patch on the lower back, visible only when it flies. Some races also have a black belly.
The sexes are similar, but immature birds have uniform pale brown upperparts, lack the dark head and have white to pale buff underparts.
References
- Birds of India by Grimmett, Inskipp and Inskipp, ISBN 0-691-04910-6
- Munias and Mannikins by Robin Restall, ISBN 1-873403-51-8
External links
Categories:- IUCN Red List least concern species
- Lonchura
- Birds of Asia
- Birds of Southeast Asia
- Birds of Bangladesh
- Birds of Brunei
- Birds of Cambodia
- Birds of China
- Birds of India
- Birds of Indonesia
- Birds of Laos
- Birds of Malaysia
- Birds of Burma
- Birds of Nepal
- Birds of the Philippines
- Birds of Singapore
- Birds of Taiwan
- Birds of Thailand
- Birds of Vietnam
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