Biology:White-headed munia
| White-headed munia | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Estrildidae |
| Genus: | Lonchura |
| Species: | L. maja
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| Binomial name | |
| Lonchura maja (Linnaeus, 1766)
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| Synonyms | |
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Loxia maja Linnaeus, 1766 | |
The white-headed munia (Lonchura maja) is a species of estrildid finch found in Teladan, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. This species is also introduced to Portugal. It is found in wetlands habitat. The status of the species is evaluated as Least Concern.
Taxonomy
The white-headed munia was formally described in 1766 by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in the twelfth edition of his Systema Naturae under the binomial name Loxia maja.[2] Linnaeus cited George Edwards's "The Malacca Gros-beak" and Mathurin Jacques Brisson's "Le Maia de la Chine".<ref>{{ cite book | last=Edwards | first=George | author-link=George Edwards (naturalist) | year=1760 | title=Gleanings of Natural History, exhibiting figures of quadrupeds, birds, insects, plants &c... | language=English, French | volume=Part 2 | location=London | publisher=Printed for the author, at the College of Physicians | url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/57914965
Description
Smallish (11 cm), white headed brown finch. Similar to the chestnut munia but paler brown and entire head and throat white. Young birds are brown on upperparts with underparts and face buff. Iris-brown; bill-grey; feet-pale blue. Voice: high-pitched 'pee-pee'.
Distribution and status
Malay peninsula, Sumatra, Java, Bali and Celebes. In Java and Bali this is a fairly common and widespread bird up to 1500 m.
Behaviour
It frequents marshes and reedbeds. Like other munias form large flocks during rice harvest but spread out in pairs during breeding season. General behaviour similar to other munias.
Feeding
Rice and Grass seeds.
Breeding
Four to five, occasionally six, white eggs are laid in a typical munia ball-shaped grass nest. Breeding is recorded in West Java for February.
References
- ↑ BirdLife International (2016). "Lonchura maja". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T22719851A94647970. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22719851A94647970.en. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22719851/94647970. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
- ↑ Linnaeus, Carl (1766) (in Latin). Systema naturae : per regna tria natura, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. 1, Part 1 (12th ed.). Holmiae (Stockholm): Laurentii Salvii. p. 301. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/42946497.
Wikidata ☰ Q548262 entry
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