Photo: Francesco Veronesi from Italy / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Black-faced Munia
Lonchura molucca
Black-faced Munia (Lonchura molucca) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Australia & Oceania.
Found across 3 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Black-faced Munia (Lonchura molucca) is a member of the Estrildidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 12 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 molucca
Where it lives
Sulawesi region, Moluccas, Lesser Sundas, Gag and Kofiau (Raja Ampat Is., west of northwestern New Guinea)
Quick facts
- Weight
- 12 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 Black-faced Munia 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 Black-faced Munia is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Black-faced Munia (Lonchura molucca) is a member of the Estrildidae family, within the order Passeriformes. It is found across Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU Sulawesi region, Moluccas, Lesser Sundas, Gag and Kofiau (Raja Ampat Is., w of nw New Guinea).
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 12 g, with a wing length of about 5.1 cm and a tail of around 3.7 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 313,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Black-faced Munia?
The Black-faced Munia is a very small bird that weighs around 12 g.
Where does the Black-faced Munia live?
The Black-faced Munia is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU Sulawesi region, Moluccas, Lesser Sundas, Gag and Kofiau (Raja Ampat Is., w of nw New Guinea), where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Black-faced Munia belong to?
The Black-faced Munia (Lonchura molucca) belongs to the Estrildidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Black-faced Munia eat?
The Black-faced Munia is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Black-faced Munia migrate?
The Black-faced Munia is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Black-faced Munia endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Black-faced Munia make?
1 real field recording of the Black-faced Munia — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Black-faced Munia's range?
The Black-faced Munia has a mapped global range of about 313,000 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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