VMD 513: Pet animal Breeding, Management, Nutrition and Health Care (1+1)

MANIKINS (NUNS/MUNIAS) [Web link ......]

• There are different species like black headed munia ‑ Lonchura malacca, white backed munia ‑Lonchura striata, spotted munia ‑ Lonchura punctulata.
• Munias are very popular as cage birds. During the breeding season the cock sings weakly for his mate. Munias are very sociable birds.
• Lonchura is a genus of the estrildid finch family, and includes munias (or minias), mannikins, and silverbills.
• They are resident breeding birds in Africa and in South Asia from India and Sri Lanka east to Indonesia and the Philippines.
• The name mannikin is from Middle Dutch mannekijn 'little man' (also the source of the different bird name manakin.
• Some of the Lonchura species were formerly placed in Spermestes. Others have been placed in a genus of their own
• They are small gregarious birds which feed mainly on seeds, usually in relatively open habitats, preferring to feed on the ground or on reeds and grasses.
• Several species have been noted to feed on algae such as Spirogyra.
• The nest is a large domed grass structure into which 4–10 white eggs are laid. Some species also build communal roosting nests for overnight rest.
• The species in this genus are similar in size and structure, with stubby bills, stocky bodies and long tails. Most are 10–12 cm in length.
• Plumage is usually a combination of browns, black and white, with the sexes similar, but duller and less contrasted for immature birds.
• The similarities within this group and the existence of subspecies with differing vocalisations and plumage mean that some races may be elevated to species status.
• African and Indian Silverbill are now usually considered distinct species, and the two races of Black-throated Munia are often also split.
• The munias are popular in the bird trade and many freed or escaped birds have formed feral colonies in different pockets across the world.
• The Red Munia Estrilda amandava and Green Munia Estrilda formosa also take the name munia, but are in the Estrilda genus.

Black head munia

Silver bill munia

Scaly breasted munia