Fun White-rumped Munia Facts For Kids

The white-rumped munia (Lonchura striata) or the white-rumped mannikin, in aviculture, is also referred to as striated finch. It is a small bird that belongs in the waxbill family i.e. finches (Estrildidae). This bird species is not related to actual true finches (Fringillidae) or actual sparrows (Passeridae).

It is primarily a resident of the tropical parts of Asia and some of its adjacent islands. They have been naturalized in certain areas of Japan. It also has a domesticated descendant known as the society finch or the Bengalese finch. They are found worldwide but only as pets.

If you like what you read, do check out the scaly-breasted munia and chestnut munia.

What type of animal is a white-rumped munia?

The white-rumped munia (Lonchura striata) is a small bird that belongs to the family of Estrildidae.

What class of animal does a white-rumped munia belong to?

The white-rumped munia (Lonchura striata) or L. s. striata belongs to the class of Aves under the genus Lonchura.

How many white-rumped munias are there in the world?

The IUCN Redlist estimated the approximate population range of Lonchura striata at 10,000-100,000 mature breeding pairs in China; 10,000-100,000 breeding pairs in Taiwan and 100-10,000 newly introduced breeding pairs in Japan. Currently, the population trend of this species appears to be stable with no immediate threat or chances of extinction.

Where does a white-rumped munia live?

The white-rumped munia (Lonchura striata) or L. s. striata prefers to live in forest areas, savanna, open woodland, grassland, and shrubland.

What is a white-rumped munia's habitat?

The white-rumped munia habitat range includes the Indian subcontinent which extends up to southern China in the east to Taiwan, and then through the southeast part of Asia to Sumatra. Its resident countries include Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Northern Malay Peninsula, Myanmar, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.

Who do white-rumped munias live with?

The white-rumped munia (Lonchura striata) or L. s. striata are very gregarious and social birds. They usually travel in groups of breeding pairs. It feeds mainly on seeds and can easily adapt itself to agricultural lands. So these groups travel together through the undergrowth. They are often accompanied by other birds, as well.

How long does a white-rumped munia live?

Unfortunately, there is no data that confirms the average lifespan of the white-rumped munia (Lonchura striata) or L. s. striata.

How do they reproduce?

There is very little information available on the reproduction process of the white-rumped munia. They build a dome-shaped structure in trees with grass and straws to use as a nest or simply use old nests of weavers. The female bird lays three to eight white eggs after they are done mating.

What is their conservation status?

Due to their wide population range, the IUCN Red List has listed their current status as Least Concern as according to their studies and observations these birds do not face any immediate threat of extinction.

What do white-rumped munias look like?

The white-rumped munia (Lonchura striata) has a short and thick gray bill with a long pointy black tail. The upper parts and the breasts of the adult birds are brown which gradually turns lighter below. They also have a white rump. Though there are some differences among the subspecies, the sexes of these subspecies are however impossible to identify. The male birds have a bulkier head and bill.

How cute are they?

The white-rumped mannikin is considered to be cute and is often kept as a pet.

How do they communicate?

The white-rumped munia call includes specific chirps like other species or subspecies, which they use to communicate with each other. They are very social and usually travels and stays in flocks.

How big is a white-rumped munia?

The white-rumped munia has a total body length of 3.9-4.4 in (10-11 cm), whereas other finches like the red finch 4.9-6 in (12.4-15 cm), the saffron finch 5-5.5 in (13-14 cm) and the house finch 5-6 in (13-15 cm) appear to be a little bigger.

How fast can a white-rumped munia fly?

Unfortunately, there is no data on the average flight speed of the striated finch.

How much does a white-rumped munia weigh?

The average weight of the white-rumped munia is also unknown.

What are the male and female names of the species?

There is no separate name allotted for the males and females of the striated finches.

What would you call a baby white-rumped munia?

A baby of a white-rumped munia is referred to as a chick or juvenile.

What do they eat?

This species feeds mainly on seeds, however besides that the white-rumped munia food also includes algae, which provides them with protein.

Are they dangerous?

No, generally the white-rumped munia is not considered dangerous at all, they are very social and likable birds.

Would they make a good pet?

Yes, the white-rumped munia could be an ideal choice to be kept as a pet, the subspecies of these birds known as the society finch or the Bengalese finch are already very popular as pets. They have a wide habitat range starting from east to west and southern parts to northern parts of our globe; they are available all over the world but only as pets, not to be found outside in nature.

Did you know...

The term 'Loxia striata' was coined by Carl Linnaeus, a Swedish naturalist who in 1766 added 240 new species for the 12th edition of his book 'Systema Naturae'.

Different types of munia

The family of Estrildidae finches is mostly known or referred to as munias and there are a total of eight different species of munias that are mainly found in India. The list here has all the munias under the genus Launchora, which includes all the munias and the silverbill. As they belong to the same genus and the same family, most of them have similar physical features, feeding habits, and overall behavioral patterns.

First is the scaly-breasted munia or the spice finch. They are the most common species of finches under the genus Launchora. They are covered in brown feathers and have white spots on their breasts.

The second most common finches are the white-rumped munias, which are also found mostly in India.

The black-throated munia is also a common breeding resident of India. They are also covered in dark brown feathers.

The Indian silverbill or the white-throated munia has a distinctive white throat with dark brown upper parts. They forage in very small groups in search of food. They are also native to India.

The red avadavat or the strawberry finch is very distinctive from the rest, for its unique coloring. They have brown feathers with a hint of red around their head and tails, and white spots all over. They mainly visit India during the monsoons in search of an ideal breeding place.

The green avadavat or the green munia is basically endemic in India. They are very popular cage birds and are usually kept as pets.

The tri-colored munia has a great resemblance to the chestnut munia. They have brown feathers, a black head and are mostly found in flocks in search of foods like seeds and grains. They were originally introduced in India and later distributed to the rest of the world.

Lastly, the chestnut munia is also referred to as the black-headed munia. These small brown gregarious birds were the national bird of the Philippines. They are also breeding residents of Bangladesh, Nepal, India, and Indonesia.

Naming white-rumped munia

The white-rumped munias have a distinctive white rump, this unique appearance earned them this name. However, they have a lot of other names by which they are referred to, like Loxia striata and the society finch.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! For more relatable content, check out these crested pigeon facts, or fox sparrow facts pages.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable bird coloring pages.