White-headed Munia
Lonchura maja
Silhouette: Ferran Sayol · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderPasseriformes (Perching Birds)
- FamilyEstrildidae (Waxbills and Allies)
- GenusLonchura (Typical Munias and Mannikins)
- SpeciesLonchura maja (White-headed Munia)
About the White-headed Munia
The white-headed munia (Lonchura maja) is a small passerine bird belonging to the estrildid finch family. This species is often confused with, and referred to as, the Pale-headed munia (Lonchura pallida) which can be differentiated by tan coloured flanks which are lighter than the brown wings and also by the absence of the black belly.
The white-headed munia was formally described in 1766 by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in the twelfth edition of his Systema Naturae under the binomial name Loxia maja. Linnaeus cited George Edwards's "The Malacca Gros-beak" and Mathurin Jacques Brisson's "Le Maia de la Chine". The English naturalist John Ray used the word "Maia" for a Cuban bird in 1768. Linnaeus specified the locality as East India. This was amended to Malacca in 1924. The white-headed munia is now placed in the genus Lonchura that was introduced by the English naturalist William Henry Sykes in 1832. It is treated as monotypic: no subspecies are recognised.
The White-headed munia has a distinctive chocolate-brown body and a contrasting white head and throat. They are typically 11 cm in length and weigh around 11 grams. Adult birds have... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of White-headed Munia in Gunung Leuser National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Gunung Leuser National Park
White-rumped Munia
Lonchura striata
Nutmeg Mannikin
Lonchura punctulata
White-bellied Munia
Lonchura leucogastra
Chestnut Munia
Lonchura atricapilla
Yellow-vented Bulbul
Pycnonotus goiavier
Red-eyed Bulbul
Pycnonotus brunneus
Sooty-headed Bulbul
Pycnonotus aurigaster
Dark-necked Tailorbird
Orthotomus atrogularis
Ashy Tailorbird
Orthotomus ruficeps
Spectacled Bulbul
Rubigula erythropthalmos
Brown-throated Sunbird
Anthreptes malacensis
Common Iora
Aegithina tiphia
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kerinci Seblat National Park | 🇮🇩 Indonesia | |
| 2 | Way Kambas National Park | 🇮🇩 Indonesia | |
| 3 | Bali Barat National Park | 🇮🇩 Indonesia | |
| 4 | Gunung Leuser National Park | 🇮🇩 Indonesia | |
| 5 | Taman Negara National Park | 🇲🇾 Malaysia |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a White-headed Munia in Gunung Leuser National Park?
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a White-headed Munia sighting in Gunung Leuser National Park, based on 10 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see White-headed Munia in Gunung Leuser National Park?
April has the highest sighting rate for White-headed Munia in Gunung Leuser National Park in our monthly data.