Chestnut Munia

Basic Description

The Chestnut Munia is a gorgeous little finch, boldly patterned in rich chestnut and glossy black offset by a large, pale bill. These social birds often forage in large flocks out in the open, in grasslands, rice paddies, marshes, and scrubby areas. They give high-pitched calls, clinging to grass stems as they reach for seedheads, and flying about on rapid, whirring wingbeats. Native to southeastern Asia, Chestnut Munias have been introduced to islands in the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean, including the Hawaiian Islands.