White-headed Munia

Overview

The white-headed munia (Lonchura maja) is a small passerine bird belonging to the estrildid finch family. This species is monotypic with no recognised subspecies and is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Identification

• Typically 11 cm in length and weighing around 11 grams.
• Features a contrasting white head, throat, and upper breast tinged with buff against a chocolate-brown body.
• Adult upperparts, flanks, and wings are chestnut brown, with a black belly and black-brown tail.
• Bill and legs are light grey, with males having whiter heads and more pronounced breast-flank lines than females.

Habitat

Native to Southeast Asia, including Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Singapore. The species inhabits tropical and subtropical environments such as grasslands, wetlands, and cultivated areas, where it is often associated with rice fields.

Diet

The diet mainly consists of seeds, specifically grass seeds and rice grains.

Did you know?

Juvenile birds are practically impossible to differentiate from juveniles of other species such as the white-capped munia, pale-headed munia, chestnut munia, or scaly-breasted munia.