Birds of Singapore
by the Bird Society of Singapore
Lonchura punctulata
Malay name: Ciak-Padi Pinang · Chinese name: 斑文鸟
Family: Munias, Parrotfinches, Waxbills, and Allies · Status: Common resident and common introduced resident · Size: 12–12.5 cm · Conservation: Least Concern
Occurs from the Himalayan foothills through the Indian subcontinent, China and Southeast Asia.
Light brown upperparts, darker brown face, and white underparts with black scalings. Juvenile is duller and paler with very faint or absent scaling. Subspecific identification of birds in Singapore is difficult (fretensis is native; and it is not entirely clear where the introduced populatiosn are from) due to rampant mixing. Adult Chestnut Munia has black hood and deep chestnut body, White-headed Munia has white head and large black belly patch. Juveniles of other Munia species are difficult to tell apart.
Open grassland, shrubby edges, cultivated land, urban areas, wasteland, and secondary growth.
Highly gregarious; forages in flocks, climbing grass stems to reach seeding heads, sometimes mixing with other munia species.