White-headed Munia and Panicum maximum

Howard Banwell sent in images of the White-headed Munia (Lonchura maja) taken at Singapore’s Pulau Semakau. The munias are eating the seeds of what looks like Guinea grass, Panicum maximum.

This is a rather large grass that reaches more than two metres high. The tall, open inflorescence is made up of spreading slender branches, usually in whorls, that are at first upright but gradually spreading obliquely. The grass grows in open, wet grounds. Introduced from Africa, it was once used as a fodder-grass.

For other posts on the seeds munias take, see “Related Posts” below.