Photo: Kmoorthy1969 / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Black-throated Munia
Lonchura kelaarti
Black-throated Munia (Lonchura kelaarti) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of South & Southeast Asia.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Black-throated Munia (Lonchura kelaarti) is a member of the Estrildidae family found in South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 14.1 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 kelaarti
Quick facts
- Weight
- 14.1 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Estrildidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Black-throated Munia is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open scrub and shrubland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Black-throated Munia is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Black-throated Munia (Lonchura kelaarti) is a species of bird in the Estrildidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR India and Sri Lanka.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 14.1 g, with a wing length of about 5.4 cm and a tail of around 3.9 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 140,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Black-throated Munia?
The Black-throated Munia is a very small bird that weighs around 14.1 g.
Where does the Black-throated Munia live?
The Black-throated Munia is found across South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR India and Sri Lanka, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Black-throated Munia belong to?
The Black-throated Munia (Lonchura kelaarti) belongs to the Estrildidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Black-throated Munia eat?
The Black-throated Munia is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Black-throated Munia migrate?
The Black-throated Munia is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Black-throated 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-throated Munia make?
1 real field recording of the Black-throated 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-throated Munia's range?
The Black-throated Munia has a mapped global range of about 140,000 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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Guides for this bird
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