In 2019, at the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanical Garden, I spotted a bird that resembled a sparrow in size but featured distinct brown, scale-like markings on its chest and abdomen. It wasn't until 2023 that I finally encountered this species again.
The Scaly-breasted Munia (Lonchura punctulata)—also known as the Spotted Munia or Nutmeg Mannikin—is a sparrow-sized estrildid finch.
It is native to tropical Asia, ranging from India and Sri Lanka east to Indonesia and the Philippines (where it is locally known as mayang pakíng). Due to its popularity in the pet trade, it has been introduced to many other parts of the world, including Australia and the United States (particularly in California and Florida). There are 11 recognized subspecies across its range, which vary slightly in size and coloration.
The bird’s name is derived from the intricate, scale-like feather patterns on its breast and belly. Adults: Feature a dark, conical bill and rich brown upperparts. Juveniles: Younger birds have much lighter plumage and a uniform yellowish-brown underside. They lack the signature dark scales, which only become prominent as the birds mature.
These finches are highly social and thrive in a variety of habitats, though they are usually found near water and grasslands. They are gregarious birds that forage in large flocks, sometimes numbering up to 100 individuals. They often roost alongside other munia species.
While foraging, they maintain contact with one another through a series of soft calls and whistles.
Their diet consists mainly of grass seeds, supplemented by berries and small insects.
2019 年，我在洛杉磯植物園看過一種體型與麻雀相仿的鳥，但它的胸部和腹部卻有著獨特的褐色鱗片狀斑紋。直到 2023 年，我才再次見到這種鳥。
斑文鳥或鱗胸文鳥 (俗名: 魚鱗沉香算命鳥、小紡織鳥、烏合畢、烏嘴（喙）畢仔、禾嗶仔（客語）、蓽雀) 是一種麻雀大小的梅花雀。
它原產於熱帶亞洲，分佈範圍從印度和斯里蘭卡向東延伸至印度尼西亞和菲律賓（在菲律賓當地被稱為“mayang pakíng”）。由於其在寵物貿易中的受歡迎程度，它已被引入世界許多其他地區，包括澳大利亞和美國（尤其是在加利福尼亞州和佛羅裡達州）。在其分佈範圍內，已知的亞種有11個，這些亞種在體型和顏色上略有不同。
這種鳥的名字來自於其胸腹部錯綜複雜、鱗片狀的羽毛圖案。成鳥：喙呈深色圓錐形，上體是濃鬱的棕色。幼鳥：幼鳥羽毛顏色較淺，下體呈均勻的黃褐色。它們沒有標誌性的深色鱗片，這些鱗片只有在鳥類成熟後才會變得明顯。
這些雀類是高度群居的鳥類，適應性強，能在多種棲息地生存，但通常棲息在水源和草地附近。它們是群居性鳥類，經常成群覓食，有時數量可達 100 隻。它們也經常與其他文鳥一起棲息。
在覓食時，它們透過一系列輕柔的叫聲和哨聲保持聯繫。
它們的食物主要是草籽，輔以漿果和小昆蟲。
Notes 筆記
- The scaly-breasted munia or spotted munia (Lonchura punctulata), known in the pet trade as nutmeg mannikin or spice finch, is a sparrow-sized estrildid finch native to tropical Asia. The species is endemic to Asia and occurs from India and Sri Lanka east to Indonesia and the Philippines (where it is called mayang pakíng). It is found in a range of habitats but is usually close to water and grassland. It also has been introduced into many other parts of the world such as Australia, and the United States of America. The species has 11 subspecies across its range, which differ slightly in size and color.
- The scaly-breasted munia's 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 sexes are similar, although males have darker markings on the underside and a darker throat than females.
- The scaly-breasted munia eats mainly grass seeds apart from berries and small insects. They forage in flocks and communicate with soft calls and whistles. They form flocks of as many as 100 birds. The species is highly social and may sometimes roost with other species of munias.
- 斑文鳥或鱗胸文鳥 (俗名: 魚鱗沉香算命鳥、小紡織鳥、烏合畢、烏嘴（喙）畢仔、禾嗶仔（客語）、蓽雀) 在寵物貿易中被稱為肉荳蔻曼尼金雀 (nutmeg mannikin) 或香料雀 (spice finch)，是一種麻雀大小的梅花雀，原產於熱帶亞洲。它是是亞洲特有的物種，分佈範圍從印度和斯里蘭卡東部到印度尼西亞和菲律賓。它存在於各種棲息地，但通常靠近水和草地。它也已被引入世界許多其他地區，例如澳大利亞和美國。這物種有 11 個亞種，其大小和顏色略有不同。
- 斑文鳥的名字來自胸部和腹部明顯的鱗片狀羽毛斑紋。成鳥上面是棕色的，有一個深色圓錐形的喙。兩性相似，但雄鳥的下側斑紋和喉嚨顏色比雌鳥更深。
- 斑文鳥除了漿果和小昆蟲外，主要吃草籽。它們成群結隊地覓食，並用輕柔的叫聲和口哨進行交流。它們形成多達 100 隻鳥的鳥群。這物種是群居的，有時可能與其他文鳥物種棲息在一起。
References 參考資料
- Wikipedia: Scaly-breasted munia
- 維基百科: 斑文鳥
- Birdfinding.info: Scaly-breasted Munia
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