Scaly-breasted munia (Lonchura punctulata)

Scaly-breasted munia (Lonchura punctulata) is a species of bird in the family Estrildidae. These small, seed- and grain-eating birds measure 11–12 cm in length (from beak to tail tip) and weigh 12–16 grams. Adults are brown on the neck and upper body, marked with faint, light-colored streaks.

L. punctulata features a reddish-brown throat, while the underparts are white with a brown, scale-like pattern—most prominent on the breast and flanks. The lower abdomen and the area near the base of the tail are white. Juveniles have a deep yellow to brownish breast and belly, but lack the scale-like markings. Males and females are identical in appearance.



This species is found in both rural and urban environments, particularly near rice paddies. They inhabit areas ranging from the coast up to an elevation of 2,300 meters. Their diet consists primarily of various grass seeds, including rice. They frequently visit rice fields, grasslands, open vegetated areas, and gardens.

These birds live in pairs or small groups and readily mingle with other species. While a flock may initially consist of only a few individuals, their numbers can swell to hundreds during the rice harvest season—often causing significant losses for farmers.

Nests are built in trees or tall shrubs. They are spherical or bottle-shaped, constructed from grasses, and tucked away among foliage and branches. The eggs are white and measure 15 x 11 mm. These birds breed year-round, typically laying 4–6 eggs per nest.

TAXON

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Estrildidae
Genus: Lonchura Sykes (1832)
Species: Lonchura punctulata Linnaeus (1758)
Subspecies:
L. p. punctulata Linnaeus (1758): Pakistan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka
L. p. subundulata Godwin-Austen (1874): Bhutan, Bangladesh, India, Myanmar
L. p. yunnanensis Parkes (1958): China, Myanmar
L. p. topela R. Swinhoe (1863): Myanmar, Thailand, Taiwan, Hainan Islands, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam
L. p. cabanisi Sharpe (1890): Philippines, Sabah, Brunei
L. p. fretensis Kloss (1931): Malaysia, Singapore, Sumatra, Nias Islands
L. p. nisoria Temminck (1830): Kalimantan, Java, Bali, Lombok, Sumbawa
L. p. sumbae Mayr (1944): Sumba
L. p. blasii Stresemann (1912): Flores, Timor, Tanimbar Islands
L. p. baweana Hoogerwerf (1963): Bawean Islands, Java
L. p. particeps Riley (1920): Sulawesi

SYNONYMS

Loxia punctulata Linnaeus (1758)

VERNACULAR NAME

Afrikaans: Muskaatfret
Assamese: ফুটুকী টুনি
Asturian: Picuplata puntuada
Azerbaijani: Pulcuqlu amadina
Bengali: তিলা মুনিয়া
Bulgarian: Люспеста лонхура - Люспогърда амадина
Catalan: maniquí d'escates, Maniquí puntejat
Chinese (simplified): 斑文鸟
Chinese (traditional): 斑文鳥
Croatian: ljuskastoprsa amadina
Czech: Amadina muškátová, Panenka muškátová
Danish: Muskatfinke
Dutch: Muskaatvink
English: Scaly-breasted munia, Nutmeg mannikin, Spice finch, Spotted munia, Nutmeg munia, Ricebird, Scaly-breasted mannikin, Spice munia, Spotted mannikin
Esperanto: Punkteta lonĥuro, Punktita manekeno, Skvambrusta estrildo
Estonian: Võrkamadiin
Filipino: Mayang paking
Finnish: Suomumanikki
French: Capucin damier, Capucin ponctué, Damier commun, Domino ponctué, Muscade
Frisian: Muskaatfink
Galician: Capuchino dominó, Capuchino pedrás
German: Muskatfink, Muskatamadine, Muskatbronzemännchen
Greek: Μoσχόσπιζα
Guangdong: 斑文鳥
Gujarati: તલિયું ટપૂસિયું
Hebrew: מוניה מפוספסת-חזה
Hindi: चित्ती मुनिया
Hong Kong: 斑文鳥
Hungarian: Muskátpinty
Icelandic: Hreisturnunna
Indonesian: Bondol peking, Pipit peking, Bondol dada sisik, Burung bondol peking
Irish: Mainicín noitmige
Italian: Domino, Munia pettosquamato
Japanese (Kanji): 縞金腹
Japanese (romaji): Amihara, Shima kinpara, Shimakimpara, Shimakinpara, Shima-kinpara
Japanese: シマキンパラ
Java: Emprit peking
Kannada: ಚುಕ್ಕೆ ರಾಟವಾಳ
Kirghiz: какачтуу өрмөкчү
Konkani: खवळां भोवर
Korean: 얼룩무늬납부리새
Latvian: Garšvielu smailastīte
Lithuanian: Dryžoji munija, Muskatinė amadina
Macao: 斑文鳥
Maharashtra: ठीपकेवाली मनोली
Malayalam: ചുട്ടിയാറ്റ
Malaysia: Pipit pinang, Ciak-padi pinang
Mamasa: dena akadi
Manipuri: Usuk tharang
Marathi: ठिपकेवाली मनोली
Nepali: कोटेरो मुनिया
Norwegian: Muskatfink, Muskatnonne
Oriya: ଚିତ୍ରା ବାରମାସି
Persian: سهره ریز سینهپولکی
Pinyin: Bān wén-niǎo, Lín-xiōng wén-niǎo, Suàn-mìng niǎo, Xiǎo fǎng-zhī niǎo, Yú-lín chénxiāng, Zhēnzhū-niǎo
Polish: Mniszka muszkatowa
Portuguese: Capuchinho-dominó
Punjabi: ਤੇਲੀਆ ਮੁਨੀਆ
Russian: Чешуйчатая амадина - Чешуйчатая муния - Чешуйчатогрудая амадина
Serbian: зачинска зеба
Singhala: පුල්ල වීකුරුල්ලා
Slovak: Amadina muškátová, mníška muškátová
Slovenian: Muškatni galebček
Spanish: Capuchino Punteado, Damero, Gorrión canelo, Cigüita Comearroz, Ciguíta Pechijabao, Cigüita Pechijabao, Pechijabado, Munia Empedrada, Capuchino Pecho Escamoso, Capuchino Nutmeg, Monjita Acanelada, Pinzón Acanelado
Sunda: Manut peking, Piit peking
Swedish: Fjällig munia
Taiwan: 斑文鳥
Tamil: புள்ளிச் சில்லை Pulli Chillai
Telugu: చుక్కల జినువాయి
Thai: นกกระติ๊ดขี้หมู
Turkish: Baharat ispinozu, Pullu Munya
Ukrainian: Амадина іржаста - Мунія іржаста
Vietnamese: Chim Di đá, Chim Ri đá, Di đá
Welsh: Manicin mannog

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