Listen to the Scaly-breasted munia
Tip: press play to see the sound's live frequency spectrum in blue over the waveform.
About the Scaly-breasted munia
The Scaly-breasted munia is a bird in the family Estrildidae (order Passeriformes). Its conservation status on the IUCN Red List is “least concern”. Adults weigh around 14 g.
What does the Scaly-breasted munia sound like?
Birds produce sound with the syrinx, a vocal organ deep in the chest that can make two independent sounds at once. Songs tend to be long and patterned and are used to hold territory and attract a mate; calls are short signals for contact, alarm and flight.
The recordings here are labelled as begging call, hatchling or nestling and call. Listen for differences in rhythm, pitch and repetition – the spectrum display makes it easy to see whether a sound is a pure whistle (a thin line), a harsh call (a broad band) or a trill (rapid repeated marks).
From Wikipedia
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. A species of the genus Lonchura, it was formally described and named by Carl Linnaeus in 1758. Its 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 species has 11 subspecies across its range, which differ slightly in size and colour.
This munia eats mainly grass seeds apart from berries and small insects. They forage in flocks and communicate with soft calls and whistles. The species is highly social and may sometimes roost with other species of munias. This species is found in tropical plains and grasslands. Breeding pairs construct dome-shaped nests using grass or bamboo leaves.
More from the family Estrildidae
Frequently asked questions
What does a Scaly-breasted munia sound like?
You can hear 2 recordings of the Scaly-breasted munia on this page, including its begging call, hatchling or nestling and call. Birds produce sound with the syrinx, a vocal organ deep in the chest that can make two independent sounds at once.
Is the Scaly-breasted munia endangered?
The IUCN Red List classifies the Scaly-breasted munia as “least concern”.
What family does the Scaly-breasted munia belong to?
The Scaly-breasted munia (Lonchura punctulata) belongs to the family Estrildidae in the order Passeriformes.
Sources & credits
- Begging call, hatchling or nestling · Tirupati, Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh, India by K L Vinay – CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
- Call · Bhupal housing Colony, Tirupati, Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh… by K L Vinay – CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
- Wikidata Q36197 – CC0
- Wikipedia: Scaly-breasted munia – CC BY-SA 4.0
- Photo by Kmoorthy1969 – CC BY-SA 4.0