Antics of the Scaly-breasted Munia

When I called Eric from the hotel in San Luis Obispo to tell him that I had seen a new species on my travels (new to me, not new to science!), he asked, what exactly is a "Scaly-breasted Munia"? 
"It sounds more like a lizard than a bird!" 


Perhaps, but the "scales" aren't scales at all - the name comes from the lovely, intricate, lacy pattern of feathers on their breast.  Maybe "Lacy-breasted Munia" would sound more appealing.  Other names of the Scaly-breasted Munia (Lonchura punctulata) include Nutmeg Mannikin and Spice Finch, names commonly used in the pet trade.

The brownish, sparrow-sized Scaly-breasted Munia is an Estrildid finch (family Estrildidae) indigenous to the Old World tropics.  Their native range spans Southeast Asia, India, the Philippines and Indonesia.  They were introduced in the New World through the pet trade (their beauty and gregarious nature apparently make them endearing pets, to some...) and escaped birds have been successfully establishing wild populations in California since the 1980's.



Scaly-breasted Munias are highly social birds, foraging and roosting together in large flocks.  In their native range, they are birds of tropical grasslands where they feed largely on grass seed as well as some small berries.  In California, where populations have become established in some coastal locations (especially in Southern California), they are generally associated with weedy areas like vacant lots and riparian areas.  They especially favor areas of marshy vegetation and reeds where grassland and water meet.  I found this gregarious and entertaining flock of nearly 30 individuals feeding on grass seed along the trail beside Laguna Lake in San Luis Obispo.


No, Scaly-breasted Munias are not "supposed" to be here in California, and yes, I generally have a problem with introduced species.  A species' ability to survive outside its native range is a testament to its adaptability and competitive life strategy; for a species to really  thrive in a new place, like European Starlings and House Sparrows have done across the entire North American continent, shows just how well those birds can out-compete native species.  Boisterous, bullying European Starlings and House Sparrows regularly outcompete our native Western Bluebirds and Tree Swallows, pushing them out of nest cavities which leads to the reproductive success of the non-native species and the failure of the natives.  It's an issue I like to draw attention to.

And yes, I also have a problem with the pet trade in general, and the exotic bird trade in particular.  There are facts and figures out there that truly make my blood boil, and no shortage of images that make me want to throw up my hands in despair and just have a good cry.  And lest you think this is something that only happens on the other side of the world, I assure you, it is not.  This is a very real problem here in California. 


So of course, while watching the entertaining antics of this flock of beautiful birds, these were the thoughts going through my head: the issue of invasive species, the cruelty of the pet trade.  (You're welcome for bringing that little ray of sunshine into your day.) 

But I don't intend to cause despair!  I only hope we can begin thinking about our actions and about what we owe to other living beings - humans, animals, the entire beautiful planet we have been blessed with.  Next time you see an exotic bird - be it a parrot at a zoo or a starling (or munia) in your yard - let them serve as a reminder to pause and think about the issues they represent.

Comments

  1. sywilkOctober 29, 2022 at 5:10 PM

    I have a flock of around thirty munias (I called them spice finches) in my yard; some mature with the distinct black and white chest that looks like a checkered flag and some immature that are smaller and solid chocolate brown. I know they are not natives - ferrels maybe, but not invasive in my book - because all they appear to eat are seeds (I buy cheap canary/finch food at the 99cent store). And they sing continually, making for a cheerful yard. They show no aggression towards the other small birds - juncos, house finches, sparrows, warblers, etc. and get along well with each other. I accept them as a pleasant little migrant, welcome in my yard any day.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnonymousOctober 5, 2024 at 9:52 AM

      I see these darling little birds eating from my bird feeders. They are smaller than most other birds I see and if any bullying is done it’s by the others pushing these little guys around. Thanks for the informative post and for raising awareness 😊

      Delete

Post a Comment

You Might Also Like:

Birds of the Desert: Residents & Spring Migrants

Image
Nearly everyone knows the desert as a barren, desolate land of extremes: high heat, low precipitation; little available food and water; prickly, spiny, unfriendly plants growing in a sea of rocks and sand as far as the eye can see.  But for those who stop and look closer, the desert reveals itself as the beautiful, incredible, mesmerizing place it truly is, teeming with unexpected life. Juvenile male Costa's Hummingbird visiting chuparosa blooms next to our campsite in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. I particularly love the desert in the spring, when the annual wildflowers, cacti, flowering trees and shrubs are all in bloom.  (I've experienced the desert in the searing 120 degree heat of summer, and the rainy, even snowy cold of winter... and spring wins every time!)  Eric and I just returned from a week in the Colorado desert, exploring the imperiled, accidental Salton Sea (more on that coming soon), the vital wetlands of the Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refu
Read more

A Shorebird Primer: Godwits, Curlews, Willets and Whimbrels

Image
For those of us living in the Great Central Valley, autumn is the time to head to the coast.  Of course, there is no bad time to visit California's magnificent coastline.  But as the heat and haze of summer drag on in the Valley, the sea becomes increasingly tantalizing: September and the onset of autumn bring sunny weather and an abundance of migratory seabirds and shorebirds to our coast. A new birder visiting California's Central Coast will undoubtedly be met with a splendid array of very confusing birds.  Among these are small shorebirds like  "peeps" (sandpipers), Sanderlings and various  plovers .  But the larger birds can be just as confusing, until you learn a few distinguishing features.  Four large shorebirds that are commonly seen (and commonly confused) along California's Central Coast are Godwits, Curlews, Willets and Whimbrels. Marbled Godwit (upper left), Whimbrel (upper right), Long-billed Curlew (center front) The distinguishing featu
Read more

Birding in Adverse Weather Conditions: Wind and Rain

Image
Though I often extol the virtues and merits of winter in the Central Valley , especially when it comes to birding, the whole truth is that we experience "bad" weather also, just like anywhere else.  But even when the winter weather rolls in, the birds are still out there!  And sometimes, despite our best planning efforts, a birding day happens to coincide with crummy weather.   In that case, what's a birder to do?  Usually, we go birding anyway!   Birders far more intrepid than I regularly brave the ice and snow of northern winters to see their favorite birds, so perhaps you should look to them for real tips on winter birding!  For those of us in the valleys of California, the worst weather we see - wind and rain - is really comparatively mild.  Birding on an extremely windy day! I don't know of anyone who actually likes birding in the rain.  But I would argue that birding in the wind is just as aggravating as trying to bird in the rain!   Wind can be utterly infuri
Read more

Joshua Tree Woodlands: A Tale of Sloths, Moths and the Trees that Need Them

Image
In 1844, early California explorer John C. Fremont gave a somewhat scathing review of Joshua trees when he wrote, "...their stiff and ungraceful form makes them to the traveler the most repulsive tree in the vegetable kingdom."  Rather unkind, don't you think?  But when Joshua trees were formally described by scientist William Trelease in the 1890's, he noted that Joshua Trees are "the most attractive of all the Yuccas."  I am inclined to agree with this sentiment, and must disagree most heartily with Lieutenant Fremont! I, for one, adore Joshua Trees, with their whimsical shapes and great ecological significance!  If you struggle with plant identification, the iconic Joshua tree, hallmark of the Mojave Desert, is a good place to start.  With densely spiked tufts protruding from the ends of gangly arms stretched towards the heavens, this looks like a plant straight from a Dr. Seuss book.  Native people called these trees “humwichawa,” and used thei
Read more

Winter Gulls: The Great I.D. Challenge

Image
Gulls are a fun challenge for birders, from beginners to experts.  A few things make gulls an interesting study: they are large and conspicuous in their open habitats, so they are easy to see, easy to put a scope on, and easy to watch and study for long periods of time.  Furthermore, gulls are almost always identifiable as gulls; none of this confusing warbler/vireo/kinglet nonsense! And yet, gulls are almost impossibly difficult!  (Though perhaps not nearly as difficult as Empidonax flycatchers!) An intimidating scene to many a birder: a mixed flock of gulls.  I see five different species of gull here. Oh, and one American Coot in the background. One of the reasons they are so complicated is most gull species take two or three years to achieve adult plumage, and go through multiple molts in a year.  So, you may be looking at three or four gulls together that look like four completely different species, when they are actually just different ages (individuals in their first, s
Read more

Exploring New Places: South Carolina's Salt Marshes and Tidal Creeks

Image
Throughout South Carolina's Low Country, winding tendrils of water wend their way through a sea of grass, rising and falling with each new tide.  Low-lying intertidal areas immediately inland from the coast, salt marshes and tidal creeks form the interface between upland forests and urban areas, and brackish estuaries where freshwater and saltwater mix.   Tidal creeks are, to a first-time visitor to the South Carolina coast like myself, absolutely beautiful, mysterious, enthralling places where silvery ribbons of water meander seemingly aimlessly through a vivid green matrix.  They give the impression that there is water everywhere , a foreign concept to someone from arid, drought-stricken Mediterranean California.  And that was my first impression of South Carolina: there was water everywhere I looked!  Water in the ocean, lakes, rivers, creeks and wetlands, water covering the ground, falling from the sky, in the air itself!   Is there any land at all in this veritable wa
Read more