Photo: Wibowo Djatmiko (Wie146) / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Dusky Munia
Lonchura fuscans
Dusky Munia (Lonchura fuscans) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of South & Southeast Asia.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Dusky Munia (Lonchura fuscans) is a member of the Estrildidae family found in South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 9.5 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 fuscans
Quick facts
- Weight
- 9.5 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Estrildidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Dusky Munia is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Dusky Munia is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Dusky Munia (Lonchura fuscans) belongs to the Estrildidae family of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR Borneo and Mapun (=Cagayan Sulu, extreme w Philippines).
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 9.5 g, with a wing length of about 5 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.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 737,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Dusky Munia?
The Dusky Munia is a very small bird that weighs around 9.5 g.
Where does the Dusky Munia live?
The Dusky Munia is found across South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR Borneo and Mapun (=Cagayan Sulu, extreme w Philippines), where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Dusky Munia belong to?
The Dusky Munia (Lonchura fuscans) belongs to the Estrildidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Dusky Munia eat?
The Dusky Munia is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Dusky Munia migrate?
The Dusky Munia is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Dusky 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 Dusky Munia make?
1 real field recording of the Dusky 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 Dusky Munia's range?
The Dusky Munia has a mapped global range of about 737,000 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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