Photo: J.M.Garg / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Tricolored Munia
Lonchura malacca
Tricolored Munia (Lonchura malacca) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of South & Southeast Asia.
Found across 13 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Tricolored Munia (Lonchura malacca) is a member of the Estrildidae family found in South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 12.6 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 malacca
Quick facts
- Weight
- 12.6 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 Tricolored Munia is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Tricolored Munia is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Tricolored Munia (Lonchura malacca) is a species of bird in the Estrildidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR s India and Sri Lanka.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 12.6 g, with a wing length of about 5.5 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.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 574,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Tricolored Munia?
The Tricolored Munia is a very small bird that weighs around 12.6 g.
Where does the Tricolored Munia live?
The Tricolored Munia is found across South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR s India and Sri Lanka, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Tricolored Munia belong to?
The Tricolored Munia (Lonchura malacca) belongs to the Estrildidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Tricolored Munia eat?
The Tricolored Munia is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Tricolored Munia migrate?
The Tricolored Munia is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Tricolored 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 Tricolored Munia make?
1 real field recording of the Tricolored Munia — including its alarm call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Tricolored Munia's range?
The Tricolored Munia has a mapped global range of about 574,000 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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