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Javan Munia
Lonchura/Munia leucogastroides
Javanese Munia/Mannikin, Black-rumped Munia, Black-beaked Bronze Mannikin, Javanese White-bellied Munia
Pipit Jawa (Malay)

The Javan Munia was introduced to Singapore in the early 1920s and has prospered here, becoming the most abundant Munia in Singapore.

Like other Munias, Javan Munias eat grass seeds. Their ability to eat the seeds of short grasses may be one of the reasons for their success in urban Singapore where they forage in park lawns and open scrub. But they also take seeds from taller grasses.
Mangrove and wetland wildlife at
Sungei Buloh Nature Park
Main features: Small (11cm) head, upper breast, upperparts blackish brown; lower breast and belly white (no streaking); tail brown. Genders look alike.

Juvenile: As adult but face, throat and breast brown; rest of underparts buff.
javan munia (perched)
Call: Described as a soft prruit or tit; in alarm a louder call.

Status in Singapore: An introduced and common resident throughout the island and North and South offshore islands.

World distribution: Native to Java, Sumatra and Lombok. Introduced elsewhere.

Classification: Family Passeridae. World 386 species, Singapore 16 species.
Javan Munias usually live in pairs or small groups. But they may gather in larger flocks at food-rich sites such as ripening ricefields. They also join flocks of other Munias like the Scaly-breasted Munias.

Breeding: Where food is available year round, Javan Munias breed constantly. Otherwise, they breed mainly in the wet season. A male tries to attract a female with a complex song and when she is within sight, he fans out his tail and leans forwards. He then edges towards her with his belly and flank feathers fluffed out while swaying side to side.

Javan Munias usually nest in trees and bushes. They build globular nests out of dried grass leaves and stems, lined with soft fluffy grass seeds. In Sungei Buloh Nature Park, these little birds are particularly fond of nesting in the potted ferns that hang along the visitor centre. This habit of nesting in ornamental plants was also observed in hotels in Bali . 5-6, up to 9, white eggs are laid. Both parents may incubate, or just the female with the male standing guard and chasing off other Javan Munias. The eggs hatch in 13 days and the young are fed regurgitated seeds, the parents choosing soft ripening seeds rather than hard, dry ones. After they fledge in 18-20 days, the young may stay with the parents near the nest for some time.

Status and threats: Javan Munias are often considered a pest on paddy and other grain crops. They are often caught with other Munias, but never in very large numbers.

REFERENCES
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Nature's Niche
  • Lim Kim Seng and Dana Gardner, "Birds: An Illustrated Field Guide to the Birds of Singapore", Sun Tree Publishing Ltd., 1997 (p. 121: identification, status in Singapore, distribution, diagram, number of species).
  • G W H Davison and Chew Yen Fook, "A Photographic Guide to Birds of Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore", New Holland Publishers Ltd., 1995 (p. 128: identification, status in Singapore, distribution, photo).
  • Christopher Hails, "Birds of Singapore" illustrated by Frank Jarvis, Times Editions, 1987 reprinted 1995 (p. 156: habits, description, status in Singapore, and lovely drawings of the birds).
  • Lim Kim Seng, "Pocket Checklist of the Birds of the Republic of Singapore", Nature Society (Singapore), 1999 (Abundance, status, Chinese and Malay names).
  • Adeline Chia, "Nesting Behaviour of Birds in Sungei Buloh", Wetlands Vol 7 No. 2 (Aug 00), a publication of the Sungei Buloh Nature Park (p. 10: breeding details).
  • Sir John A S Bucknill and E N Chasen, "Birds of Singapore and South-East Asia", Tynron Press, 1927, edition 1990 (p. 210-211: identification, status in Singapore, distribution, field notes on habits, drawings).
  • Robin Restall, "Munias and Mannikins", Pica Press, 1996 (p. 85-87: identification, status, distribution, field notes on habits, drawings).
 
By Ria Tan, 2001