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Scientific name: Lonchura punctulata Higher classification: Munia Rank: Species

Scaly-breasted Munia: This small finch has chestnut-brown upperparts and dark-scaled white underparts. The head is richer brown and the bill is heavy and dark. It forages on the ground or hangs from stems to eat seeds; also feeds on greens and insects. Sexes are similar. AKA Spice Finch. Name changed from Nutmeg Mannikin to Scaly-breasted Munia in 2014 by the American Ornithologist Union.

Range and Habitat Scaly-breasted Munia: Resident of India to Taiwan, south to Sri Lanka, and through Southeast Asia to East Indies and Philippines. Introduced and established in Hawaii (widespread on all main islands); also introduced to Australia. Colonies of escaped caged birds are found in California and Texas east to Florida. Preferred habitats include reedbeds, rank grass, scrub areas, grasslands, orchards, and cultivated lands, often near human habitation.

The Scaly-breasted Munia has a vast range reaching up to between 1 million and ten million square kilometers. This bird can be found in its native habitats in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Province of China, Thailand and Vietnam and has been introduced in a number of other locations, including Australia, the U.S. and Japan among others. The bird is described as common in its native habitats. Currently, it is not believed that the population trends for this bird will soon approach the minimum levels that could suggest a potential decline in population. Due to this, population trends for the Scaly-breasted Munia have an evaluation level of Least Concern.