Javan Munia

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,

Photos:

Javan Munia. Photo Credit: Zahidi Hamid

Javan Munia at Lorong Halus. Photo Credit: Francis Yap

Javan Munia at Satay by the Bay. Photo Credit: Francis Yap

External Links:
Conservation Status: IUCN Red List Page ↗
Photos: Oriental Bird Images ↗
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 19 December 2021
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.