Photo: Kmoorthy1969 / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Scaly-breasted Munia
Lonchura punctulata
Scaly-breasted Munia (Lonchura punctulata) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of South & Southeast Asia.
Found across 17 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Scaly-breasted Munia (Lonchura punctulata) is a member of the Estrildidae family found in Australia & Oceania and South & Southeast Asia. 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 punctulata
Where it lives
Northeastern Afghanistan, India, Sri Lanka to eastern China, Taiwan, Philippines, Greater Sundas, Sulawesi and Lesser Sundas
Quick facts
- Weight
- 13.6 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 Scaly-breasted 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 Scaly-breasted Munia is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Scaly-breasted Munia (Lonchura punctulata) is a species of bird in the Estrildidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Australia & Oceania and South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR, AU ne Afghanistan, India, Sri Lanka to e China, Taiwan, Philippines, Greater Sundas, Sulawesi and Lesser Sundas.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 13.6 g, with a wing length of about 5.3 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 7.2 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Scaly-breasted Munia?
The Scaly-breasted Munia is a very small bird that weighs around 13.6 g.
Where does the Scaly-breasted Munia live?
The Scaly-breasted Munia is found across Australia & Oceania and South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR, AU ne Afghanistan, India, Sri Lanka to e China, Taiwan, Philippines, Greater Sundas, Sulawesi and Lesser Sundas, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Scaly-breasted Munia belong to?
The Scaly-breasted Munia (Lonchura punctulata) belongs to the Estrildidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Scaly-breasted Munia eat?
The Scaly-breasted Munia is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Scaly-breasted Munia migrate?
The Scaly-breasted Munia is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Scaly-breasted 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 Scaly-breasted Munia make?
1 real field recording of the Scaly-breasted 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 Scaly-breasted Munia's range?
The Scaly-breasted Munia has a mapped global range of about 7.2 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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