Nutmeg Mannikin
Lonchura punctulata
- Class
- Bird
- Rarity
- Common
- Observations
- 19,657
- Most observed in
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Conservation
- Least Concern
Description
The scaly-breasted munia or spotted munia, known in the pet trade as nutmeg mannikin or spice finch, is a sparrow-sized estrildid finch native to tropical Asia. A species of the genus Lonchura, it was formally described and named by Carl Linnaeus in 1758. Its name is based on the distinct scale-like feather markings on the breast and belly. The adult is brown above and has a dark conical bill. The species has 11 subspecies across its range, which differ slightly in size and colour.
Summary adapted from the Wikipedia article “Scaly-breasted munia”.