Black-throated Munia (Lonchura kelaarti)

Identification

• 12cm
• Dark brown upperparts
• Blackish head, breast and wings
• Long black tail
• Bill is short and thick
• Sexes similar

Immature: lacks the dark head. Underparts are more uniform.

Distribution

Asia: found in India and Sri Lanka.

Taxonomy

Subspecies

There are 2 subspecies:

1. L. k. kelaarti: pinkish underparts and rump South-western India (Kerala to western Tamil Nadu) and Eastern Ghats.
2. L. k. jerdoni: barred black and white underparts and rump Highlands of Sri Lanka.

An additional subspecies, vernayi, is not recognised by all authorities.

Habitat

Open hill woodland and cultivation.

Behaviour

Diet

The diet includes seeds.

Breeding

The nest is a large grass dome in a tree or creepers on a house wall; the Indian species lay 3-8 white eggs but more usually 5 are laid by Sri Lankan birds.

Gallery

Male bird in Knuckles Mountain Range , Matale

Female bird in Knuckles Mountain Range , Matale