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 Kerinci Seblat National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Kerinci Seblat National Park
Nutmeg Mannikin
Lonchura punctulata
White-rumped Munia
Lonchura striata
Javan Munia
Lonchura leucogastroides
White-capped Munia
Lonchura ferruginosa
Chestnut Munia
Lonchura atricapilla
Grey-headed Canary-Flycatcher
Culicicapa ceylonensis
Gray-throated Babbler
Stachyris nigriceps
White-throated Fantail
Rhipidura albicollis
Sumatran Treepie
Dendrocitta occipitalis
Ashy Drongo
Dicrurus leucophaeus
Shiny Whistling-Thrush
Myophonus melanurus
Black-and-crimson Oriole (Javan)
Oriolus cruentus
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 Kerinci Seblat National Park?
About 20% of wildlife watchers report a White-headed Munia sighting in Kerinci Seblat National Park, based on 124 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see White-headed Munia in Kerinci Seblat National Park?
May has the highest sighting rate for White-headed Munia in Kerinci Seblat National Park in our monthly data.