Dominica Botanic Gardens Roseau, Commonwealth of Dominica, West Indies

Photo: Ravi Vaidyathan Photo: bird-friends.com Photo: J.M. Garg – immature Munia

Description: Small, gregarious bird, 11–12 cm long (4.3-4.7 in); recent Dominica colonizer, but popular cage bird in its native SE Asia; adult has brown upperparts, darker brown head and throat, dark-brown eyes, and large, stubby, dark, conical bill; underparts are white with dark-brown scale-like markings; legs and feet are grey; sexes are similar; immature birds have pale brown upperparts, lack the darker head, and have uniform, buff underparts; Munias frequent open, grassy or weedy areas, forage in small flocks, and feed mainly on grass and weed seeds; click here to view its video. References: Wikipedia. Scaly-breasted Munia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, July 2008 (wikipedia.org) Nutmeg Mannikin. Birds in Backyards, July 2008 (birdsinbackyards.net) Spice Finch (Lonchura punctulata). National Finch and Softbill Society, July 2008 (nfss.org).