Photo: Joseph Smit / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Buff-bellied Mannikin
Lonchura melaena
Buff-bellied Mannikin (Lonchura melaena) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Australia & Oceania.
The Buff-bellied Mannikin (Lonchura melaena) is a member of the Estrildidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 13.3 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Estrildidae Waxbills, Munias & Allies
- Genus Lonchura
- Species melaena
Where it lives
New Britain and New Ireland (eastern Bismarck Arch.) and Buka I. (northern Solomon Is.)
Quick facts
- Weight
- 13.3 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Estrildidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Buff-bellied Mannikin is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.
Migration
The Buff-bellied Mannikin is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Buff-bellied Mannikin (Lonchura melaena) is a member of the Estrildidae family, within the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU New Britain and New Ireland (e Bismarck Arch.) and Buka I. (n Solomon Is.).
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 13.3 g, with a wing length of about 5.5 cm and a tail of around 4.2 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 12,000 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Buff-bellied Mannikin?
The Buff-bellied Mannikin is a very small bird that weighs around 13.3 g.
Where does the Buff-bellied Mannikin live?
The Buff-bellied Mannikin is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU New Britain and New Ireland (e Bismarck Arch.) and Buka I. (n Solomon Is.), where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Buff-bellied Mannikin belong to?
The Buff-bellied Mannikin (Lonchura melaena) belongs to the Estrildidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Buff-bellied Mannikin eat?
The Buff-bellied Mannikin is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Buff-bellied Mannikin migrate?
The Buff-bellied Mannikin is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Buff-bellied Mannikin endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
How large is the Buff-bellied Mannikin's range?
The Buff-bellied Mannikin has a mapped global range of about 12,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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