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White-headed Munia – adult/immature/juvenile plumage and 6 calls

on 12th May 2018
White-headed Munia, mature adult.

“White-headed Munia (Lonchura maja) plumage changes as they mature requires more observation. Wells (2007) offers some guidance but there is much variation. The birds are very sociable and soon after fledging will congregate in ‘mixed’ flocks of adults, juveniles and immatures/subadults.

White-headed Munia, a young (pristine) adult.

“A mature adult has plumage that looks worn and possibly a patriarch or matriarch in the flock (top). A young (pristine) adult looks like the image above.

White-headed Munia, a sub-adult.

“The image above shows a sub-adult.

White-headed Munia, a juvenile

“A juvenile (still being fed by adult) is shown above.

A mixed flock of White-headed Munias.

“Above shows a ‘mixed’ flocks of adults, juveniles and immatures.

“One feature that is not often noticed is the ‘black belly-patch’ (see Wells 2007) which is best seen in good light and varies in size.

“Note that the head/cap is not uniform white in younger birds and Wells 2007 describes the colour a ‘smoky pinkish grey’ (3rd image from top); this is pinkish-brown in juveniles.

The calls of the juvenile White-headed Munia is given above. These were hard to recorded due to background nose, other bird calls, hence heavily edited. The calls are sharp and discrete, very much like adult calls. Sonogram and waveform are shown below.”

Sonogram and waveform.

Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS
Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
15th April 2018 & 15th October 2017

Location: Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Habitat: Secondary growth at fringe of city

Reference:
Wells, D.R., 2007. The birds of the Thai-Malay Peninsular. Vol. II, Passerines. Christopher Helm, London. 800 pp.

If you like this post please tap on the Like button at the left bottom of page. Any views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the authors/contributors, and are not endorsed by the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM, NUS) or its affiliated institutions. Readers are encouraged to use their discretion before making any decisions or judgements based on the information presented.

YC Wee

Dr Wee played a significant role as a green advocate in Singapore through his extensive involvement in various organizations and committees: as Secretary and Chairman for the Malayan Nature Society (Singapore Branch), and with the Nature Society (Singapore) as founding President (1978-1995). He has also served in the Nature Reserve Board (1987-1989), Nature Reserves Committee (1990-1996), National Council on the Environment/Singapore Environment Council (1992-1996), Work-Group on Nature Conservation (1992) and Inter-Varsity Council on the Environment (1995-1997). He is Patron of the Singapore Gardening Society and was appointed Honorary Museum Associate of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM) in 2012. In 2005, Dr Wee started the Bird Ecology Study Group. With more than 6,000 entries, the website has become a valuable resource consulted by students, birdwatchers and researchers locally and internationally. The views and opinions expressed in this article are his own, and do not represent those of LKCNHM, the National University of Singapore or its affiliated institutions.

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