• The following pages have some identification markers for each of Munia found in India
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Sno. Name Binomial Name
1 Black-headed Munia Lonchura Malacca
2 Black-throated Munia Lonchura kelaarti
3 Chestnut Munia Lonchura atricapilla
4 Scaly-breasted Munia Lonchura punctulata
5 White-rumped Munia Lonchura striata
©www.ogaclicks.com Black-headed Munia( Tricolor Munia) identification Tips Black-headed Munia ( Tricolor Munia) : Lonchura malacca: Resident of Peninsular India
Crown & head are Black Iris dark brown, eyering light grey
Nape & Neck are Black Bill is light Grey
Chestnut Upperparts
Chestnut Wings
Chin, Throat & Breast are Black
Tail is dull chestnut-brown with reddish-chestnut to reddish-gold White Underparts fringes
Legs are Grey
Important id point Reference : Birds of Indian Subcontinent ©www.ogaclicks.com Inskipp and Grimmett Both the sexes are similar www.HBW.com Black-throated Munia identification Tips Black-throated Munia : Lonchura keelrati: Resident of Hills of South West India
Black on crown from bill to above eye Iris dark brown, eyering dark grey Brown head with whitish shaft streaks
Nape & Neck are Brown with whitish shaft streaks
Bill is blackish, with triangular pale Ear Coverts are dull pinkish-fawn bluish-grey base of lower mandible
Brown Upperparts with whitish shaft streaks
Coverts brown, fringed with dull gold or dull greenish-gold Chin, Throat & Breast are Black Brown wings
Pale brown, unspotted rump
Tail is Brown Lower breast to belly pinkish-fawn
Legs are Grey
Important id point Reference : Birds of Indian Subcontinent ©www.ogaclicks.com Inskipp and Grimmett Both the sexes are similar www.HBW.com Chestnut Munia identification Tips Chestnut Munia : Lonchura atricapilla: Resident of North & East India
Black on Head & Crown Iris dark brown, eyering dark grey
Nape & Neck are Black
Bill is light grey to pale blue
Chestnut Upperparts
Chestnut Coverts Chin, Throat & Breast are Black
Chestnut wings
Lower breast Chestnut
Brown rump Central belly to thighs and undertail-coverts black or blackish brown
Tail is Brown Legs are Grey
Chestnut Flanks
Important id point Reference : Birds of Indian Subcontinent ©www.ogaclicks.com Inskipp and Grimmett Both the sexes are similar www.HBW.com Scaly-breasted Munia identification Tips Scaly-breasted Munia : Lonchura punctulata : Widespread Resident in India ( Except North West)
Iris dark brown to brownish-red, eyering dark grey Deep reddish-brown on Head & Crown
Bill is blackish, lower mandible Nape & Neck are deep reddish-brown paler bluish-grey at base
Reddish-brown Upperparts with pale shaft streaks
Chin & Throat deep reddish-brown
Reddish Brown Coverts
White Breast & Underparts with black feather Reddish Brown wings edges, giving scaled or scalloped appearance
Barred dark brown and whitish or yellowish on rump
Legs are Grey Tail is Brown
Important id point Reference : Birds of Indian Subcontinent ©www.ogaclicks.com Inskipp and Grimmett Both the sexes are similar www.HBW.com White-rumped Munia identification Tips White-rumped Munia : Lonchura punctulata : Widespread Resident in India ( Except North West)
Iris dark brown to dark red-brown, eyering grey Dark Brown Head & Crown with fine pale shaft streaks L. s. fumigata – Resident of Andaman Island Nape & Neck are dark brown with fine pale shaft streaks Back is unstreaked brown Bill is dark grey above, Dark Brown Upperparts pale blue-grey below with fine pale shaft streaks
Chin & Throat Blackish Brown
Upperparts Blackish Brown White rump Upper breast often with reddish-brown White Lower Breast feather fringes & Underparts Blackish Brown wings Belly unmarked white with creamy-buff wash Legs are Grey L. s. acuticauda – North India ,Himalayan foothills & North east Undertail-coverts brown
Back variably streaked whitish Tail is Blackish
Chin ,Throat paler Brown Tail is pointed Breast with buff scallops
Belly whitish with fine dark scaling Important id point Reference : Birds of Indian Subcontinent ©www.ogaclicks.com Inskipp and Grimmett Both the sexes are similar www.HBW.com