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).
