Scientific Name: Lonchura leucogastroides
Malay Name: Ciak-Padi Jawa
Chinese Name: 黑喉文鸟
Range: Found from Java, Bali to Lombok and likely feral in Sumatra. Introduced into Singapore by escape or deliberate release of captives and feral since the 1920s.
Taxonomy: Monotypic.
Size: 11.5 cm
Identification: Adult has black face, throat and upper breast, dark brown upperparts and strongly contrasting white underparts. Juvenile has brownish face, throat and upper breast and pale buffish belly. Resembles White-rumped Munia but lacks the whitish rump.
Similar looking species: White-rumped Munia
Habitat: Various habitats including grasslands, marshes, mangroves, forest, secondary growth, gardens and parks.
Behaviour/Ecology: Usually forage for seeds in grasslands but has also been observed searching tree foliage apparently not for seeds.
Local Status: Uncommon introduced resident
Conservation Status: Least Concern (BirdLife International 2016)
Location: Kranji Marsh, Lorong Halus, Sungei Buloh, Satay by the Bay, Jurong Eco Garden, Murai, Central Catchment Forest (Dillenia Hut) and East Coast Parkway,
Conservation Status: IUCN Red List Page
Sound Recordings: xeno-canto Link
Wikipedia Entry: Wikipedia Link
eBird Species page: eBird (Javan Munia)
References:
BirdLife International. (2016). Lonchura leucogastroides. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22719809A94645559.en. Accessed on 1 January 2023
Robson, C. (2014). Field guide to the birds of South-East Asia (Second Edition). Bloomsbury Publishing, London.
Wells, D. R. (1999). The Birds of the Thai-Malay Peninsula (Vol. 1). Academic Press, London.
RECOMMENDED CITATION
Bird Society of Singapore. (n.d.). Javan Munia. Retrieved on July 10, 2025 from https://singaporebirds.com/species/javan-munia.