Chestnut Munia

Lonchura atricapilla

Malay name: Ciak-Padi Rawa Biasa · Chinese name: 栗腹文鸟 · Also known as: Black-headed Munia

Family: Munias, Parrotfinches, Waxbills, and Allies · Status: Uncommon resident and uncommon introduced resident · Size: 11–11.5 cm · Conservation: Least Concern

Range

Occurs from the Indian subcontinent through South China and Taiwan to Indochina, the Thai-Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Borneo to the Philippines and Sulawesi.

Identification

Adult has a black hood contrasting with deep chestnut upperparts, blue-grey bill, and black belly centre and undertail-coverts. Juvenile warm brown above and buff below. Scaly-breasted Munia lacks a black hood and shows finely scalloped white-and-brown underparts; White-headed Munia has a white head. Juveniles of other Munia species are difficult to tell apart.

Habitat

Open grassland, freshwater marsh edges, scrubby areas, and garden borders.

Behaviour

Forages socially, taking seeds from the ground and by climbing grass stems; forms large mixed flocks with other Munias.