White-rumped Munia

White-rumped Munia

Scientific Name: Lonchura striata

Malay Name: Ciak-Padi Tuli

Chinese Name: 白腰文鸟

Range: Found from Indian subcontinent, China, mainland Southeast Asia to Sumatra

Taxonomy: Polytypic. Subspecies are: acuticauda, striata, fumigata, semistriata, subsquamicollis, swinhoei.

Local Subspecies: subsquamicollis

Size: 11-11.5 cm

Identification: Adult is similar to Javan Munia but has darkish brown plumage with fine pale shaft-lines at mantle and diagnostic whitish rump and belly. Juvenile resembles adult but dark parts paler/browner and rump/belly buffy-tinged.

Similar looking species: Javan Munia

Habitat: Grasslands, marshes, tall reeds/grasses (especially near water bodies).

Behaviour/Ecology: Gregarious and feeds mainly on seeds and also algae.

Local Status: Rare resident and rare introduced resident

Conservation Status: Least Concern (BirdLife International 2016)

Location: Kranji Marsh, Lorong Halus, Chinese Garden, Pulau Ubin, Tuas, Sungei Buloh, and Pulau Tekong.

References:

BirdLife International. (2016). Lonchura striata. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22719806A94645276.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.

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