Home › Aves › Estrildidae › Scaly-breasted Munia (Lonchura punctulata)
SPECIES PROFILE
Scaly-breasted Munia (Lonchura punctulata)
Lonchura
IUCN STATUS
Least Concern
CONSERVATION STATUS
Least Concern
CLASS
Aves
GEOGRAPHICAL RANGE
Indian subcontinent southeast Asia
DIET
Omnivorous
HABITAT
Dry grasslands scrub cultivated areas
🔬 Classification
PHYLUM
Chordata
CLASS
Aves
ORDER
Passeriformes
FAMILY
Estrildidae
GENUS
Lonchura
📋 Description
SIZE
11-12 cm long 12-16 g
COLORATION
Brown with scaly white breast black bill
ADAPTATIONS
Small size for seed foraging colonial nesting
🌿 Ecology
HABITAT
Dry grasslands scrub cultivated areas
DIET
Omnivorous
GEOGRAPHIC RANGE
Indian subcontinent southeast Asia
REPRODUCTION
Lays 4-6 eggs in grass nests incubated 13-16 days
DIET DETAILS
Seeds grains small insects
⚠️ Threats & Conservation
PRIMARY THREATS
Agricultural intensification habitat loss
💡 Interesting Facts
1
Scaly Seed-eaters: Scaly-breasted Munias forage with 14-gram bodies eating 5 grams of seeds daily in Gujarat's fields. Their scaly breasts are distinctive.
2
Flock Nesters: These munias cover 2000 sq km in Maharashtra's grasslands nesting in clumps. Pesticides threaten their food.
🔭 Sighting Guide
📍 BEST PLACES TO SIGHT
Bhigwan Bird Sanctuary in Maharashtra
Jamnagar in Gujarat
Jorbeer Conservation Reserve in Rajasthan
🗓️ BEST TIME TO SIGHT
Year-round Dry fields ensure visibility for spotting munias
🎯 SIGHTING TIPS
Look for scaly-breasted munias in flocks on grassy patches
