The scaly-breasted munia or spotted munia புள்ளிச் சில்லை (Lonchura punctulata), Chennai wetland area | Birds of Medavakkam Marshlands, Chennai city birds

புள்ளிச் சில்லை - Lonchura punctulata 

    The Scaly-breasted Munia is a small-sized bird. Attractive small songbird of grasslands, gardens, fields, and agricultural areas. Native to India and Southeast Asia, with introduced populations scattered elsewhere around the world. Typical adults dark chestnut-brown above, white below, with the fine dark scaly pattern on belly; some populations duller brown. Juveniles plain brown all over with slightly paler underparts. Typically found in small flocks, sometimes mixed with other species of munia.

The scaly-breasted munia or spotted munia (Lonchura punctulata) at Medavakkam near Annakkili Amma Research Institute (Photo Credit: U Elaya Perumal)

    In Chennai wetlands, we have observed Scaly-breasted at different times, in February 2021 the juvenile Scaly-breasted munia was seen near AARI. then we have not noticed any Scaly-breasted munia near AARI. but in June 2021 the flock of Scaly-breasted munia was crossing AARI in the evening time from west to east, in the morning also they may cross but we have not seen them. in morning time these four Scaly-breasted Munia used to visit the bush in front of AARI. 

The scaly-breasted munia or spotted munia (Lonchura punctulata) at Medavakkam near Annakkili Amma Research Institute (Photo Credit: U Elaya Perumal)

புள்ளிச் சில்லை என்பது சில்லை எனப்படும் திணைக்குருவி வகையைச் சேர்ந்த சிட்டுக்குருவி அளவிலான ஒரு பறவை. இது ஆசியாவைத் தாயகமாகக் கொண்டது. இது 1758-இல் லின்னேயசால் அறிவியல் முறைப்படி பெயரிடப்பட்டது.

The scaly-breasted munia or spotted munia (Lonchura punctulata) at Medavakkam near Annakkili Amma Research Institute (Photo Credit: U Elaya Perumal)

Scientific classification 

Kingdom:    Animalia

Phylum:           Chordata

Class:            Aves

Order:            Passeriformes

Family:            Estrildidae

Genus:            Lonchura

Species:            L. punctulata

Binomial name: Lonchura punctulata (Linnaeus, 1758)

The scaly-breasted munia or spotted munia (Lonchura punctulata) at Medavakkam near Annakkili Amma Research Institute (Photo Credit: U Elaya Perumal)

    

        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.

The species is endemic to Asia and occurs from India and Sri Lanka east to Indonesia and the Philippines (where it is called mayang pakíng).

Cinnamon Bittern செங்குருகு (Ixobrychus cinnamomeus) Chennai wetland area | Birds of Medavakkam Marshlands, Chennai city birds

Cinnamon Bittern செங்குருகு (Ixobrychus cinnamomeus) at backyard of Annakkili Amma Research Institute (Photo Credit: U Elaya Perumal)

Cinnamon Bittern செங்குருகு (Ixobrychus cinnamomeus)

This bird was observed since March 2021, but it was very rarely seen, that too while flying away. They stay inside the bushes, if we go near to bushes they fly away... the earlier observations were from Medavakkam Lake. During those time they simply fly away and escape, I was not able to notice its characters properly hence I could not identify. This bird is very new to me so I need to check all its characters to identify it because I have never seen it before. this was happening till May 2021.

In may 2021 that miracle happened this bittern straight away reached the bush in front of our home. that is the time I could see it properly. when I saw the bill (peak) of this bird I recognized as it is a bittern, later found it was Cinnamon bittern. a couple of bitter was visiting our place to stay protected, which is the same place where Moorhen was hatched their chicks. But now White-Breasted Waterhen has occupied the place, hence after trying for two three days this bittern left that area.

Even though it was visiting nearby we could not take clear pictures because it was full of bushes, but on one day evening, we could observe a bittern in an open space. I was called by the AARI admin to take pictures and immediately I went and clicked a lot of pictures. it was giving a nice pose. for the first and last time, it didn't fly away after seeing me. it was literally seeing me by turning its neck but didn't fly. our recent observation confirms that they stay at the backside of the AARI building, where birds like Bronze-winged Jacana, The Eurasian Moorhen, White-breasted Waterhen, Grey-headed Swamphen have bred. I hope this bittern couple also will breed over there, it is in the center of wetland, filled with two Palm trees, Typha, and some thorny trees, The bush is thicker and safer except for the issues with snakes. 

Here are some pictures Cinnamon Bittern (செங்குருகு) for you to see...

Cinnamon Bittern செங்குருகு (Ixobrychus cinnamomeus) at the backyard of Annakkili Amma Research Institute (Photo Credit: Elaya Perumal)

Cinnamon Bittern செங்குருகு (Ixobrychus cinnamomeus) looking at me weirdly from the backyard of Annakkili Amma Research Institute (Photo Credit: Elaya Perumal)

யாரும் இல்லை; தானே கள்வன்;

தான் அது பொய்ப்பின், யான் எவன் செய்கோ?

தினை தாள் அன்ன சிறு பசுங் கால

ஒழுகு நீர் ஆரல் பார்க்கும்

குருகும் உண்டு, தான் மணந்த ஞான்றே.

கபிலர் (குறுந்தொகை 25)

In the above-mentioned Poem, the great poet Kabilar mentioned the characters of Bittern... 

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