Javan munia (Lonchura leucogastroides)

Javan munia (Lonchura leucogastroides) is a species of bird in the family Estrildidae. It is a small bird, measuring 11 cm in length (from the tip of the beak to the tail), and is commonly found in both rural and urban environments, particularly near rice paddies.

L. leucogastroides features a dark brown back, wings, and upper body, which are plain and lack any patterns. The upper face, neck, and breast are black or brownish. The lower breast, belly, and flanks are pure white, creating a sharp contrast with the brownish coloration near the base of the tail. The irises are brown.



The bird has a yellowish-brown breast and belly. Its beak is black on the upper mandible and bluish-gray on the lower, while its legs are grayish. This species frequently visits rice paddies, grasslands, open vegetated areas, and gardens to feed on rice and various types of seeds.

These birds live in pairs or small groups and often mingle with other *Lonchura* species. While flocks typically consist of only a few individuals, their numbers can swell to hundreds during the rice harvest season; such large groups are often considered a pest.

The species frequently nests in residential yards or among dense foliage in trees, at a height of 2–10 meters above the ground. They construct spherical nests made of layered blades of grass, tucked away among leaves and branches or nestled within the fronds of palm trees. The female lays 4–5 white eggs, each measuring 14x10 mm.

TAXON

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Estrildidae
Genus: Lonchura Sykes (1832)
Species: Lonchura leucogastroides Moore (1858)

SYNONYMS

Munia leucogastroides Moore (1858) in Cat. Birds Mus. East-India Co. [Horsfield & Moore] 2 p.510

VERNACULAR NAME

Bulgarian: Яванска белокорема амадина
Catalan: Maniquí de Moore
Chinese (simplified): 黑喉文鸟
Chinese (traditional): 黑喉文鳥 - 爪哇文鳥
Croatian: Javanska amadina
Czech: Amadina hnedohrbetá, Panenka hnědohřbetá
Danish: Javabronzefinke
Dutch: Javaans Bronzemannetje
English: Javan munia, Emprit bondol, Javan mannikin, Javan white-bellied munia, Javanese white-bellied munia
Esperanto: Blankventroida lonĥuro, Java estrildo
Estonian: Jaava pugal-amadiin
Finnish: Mustakaulamanikki
French: Capucin javanais, Munia de Java
German: Javabronzemännchen
Hungarian: Jávai bronzpinty
Indonesian: Bondol jawa, Burung bondol jawa
Italian: Cappuccino di Giava, Munia di Giava, Passero dal ventre bianco
Japanese (Kanji): 腰黒金腹
Japanese (romaji): Koshi-guro kinpara, Koshigurokimpara, Koshigurokinpara
Japanese: コシグロキンパラ
Lithuanian: Javinė munija
Malaysia: Burung Pipit Jawa, Ciak-Padi Jawa, Pipit Jawa
Norwegian: Javanonne
Pinyin: Hēi-hóu wén-niǎo
Polish: Mniszka bialobrzucha, mniszka białobrzucha
Portuguese: Capuchinho-javanês, Capuchinho-de-java
Russian: Яванская амадина, Яванская муния
Serbian: Javanski bronzani galebić
Slovak: Mníška hnedochrbtá
Spanish: Javan munia, Capuchino de Java
Swedish: Javamunia
Turkish: Java munyası vUkrainian: Мунія яванська

Aryo Bandoro
Dlium TheDlium
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dlium