Chestnut-breasted Mannikin
Lonchura castaneothorax
Chestnut-breasted Mannikin (Lonchura castaneothorax) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Australia & Oceania.
Found across 18 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Chestnut-breasted Mannikin (Lonchura castaneothorax) is a member of the Estrildidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 13.6 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 castaneothorax
Quick facts
- Weight
- 13.6 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Estrildidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Chestnut-breasted Mannikin is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.
Migration
The Chestnut-breasted Mannikin is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Chestnut-breasted Mannikin (Lonchura castaneothorax) is a member of the Estrildidae family, within the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU New Guinea and nw to se Australia.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 13.6 g, with a wing length of about 5.4 cm and a tail of around 3.8 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 1.9 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Chestnut-breasted Mannikin?
The Chestnut-breasted Mannikin is a very small bird that weighs around 13.6 g.
Where does the Chestnut-breasted Mannikin live?
The Chestnut-breasted Mannikin is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU New Guinea and nw to se Australia, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Chestnut-breasted Mannikin belong to?
The Chestnut-breasted Mannikin (Lonchura castaneothorax) belongs to the Estrildidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Chestnut-breasted Mannikin eat?
The Chestnut-breasted Mannikin is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Chestnut-breasted Mannikin migrate?
The Chestnut-breasted Mannikin is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Chestnut-breasted 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.
What sound does the Chestnut-breasted Mannikin make?
1 real field recording of the Chestnut-breasted Mannikin — 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 Chestnut-breasted Mannikin's range?
The Chestnut-breasted Mannikin has a mapped global range of about 1.9 million 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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