Streak-headed mannikin

Streak-headed mannikin
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Estrildidae
Genus: Lonchura
Species: L. tristissima
Binomial name
Lonchura tristissima
(Wallace, 1865)

The streak-headed mannikin (Lonchura tristissima) also known as the streak-headed munia, and including the white-spotted mannikin (L. t. leucosticta), is a small (10 cm (3.9 in) in length) estrildid finch. Some taxonomists consider ssp. leucosticta a distinct species.

Identification

Mainly dark brown plumage with light streaking on head and yellowish rump; subspecies leucosticta also with white spotting on face, breast and upper wing-coverts.

Call

Short buzzing note, repeated in flight.

Distribution

Endemic to New Guinea and some adjacent islands. It has been recorded from Saibai Island, Queensland, Australian territory in north-western Torres Strait.

Habitat

Grassy fringes of streams, forest clearings and abandoned gardens with secondary growth, in lowland New Guinea up to 1,000 m (3,300 ft) altitude.

Food

Seeds, berries and insects.

Breeding

Globular grass nest with side entrance, often suspended from rattans, in forest or at forest edge.

Conservation

As a species with a large range and no evidence of population decline, it is assessed as being of Least Concern.

References

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Saturday, May 17, 2014. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.