Chestnut-breasted Mannikin

The Chestnut-breasted Mannikin, known scientifically as Lonchura castaneothorax, presents a charming spectacle with its brown back, contrasting black face, and a greyish crown and nape. A striking broad ferruginous breast bar sets above a white belly, completing its distinctive appearance.

Identification Tips

This species has subtle differences between the subspecies. The nominate form, L. c. castaneothorax, is found in eastern Australia, while others like L. c. assimilis, with a richer breast and creamier belly, inhabit northern Australia. The L. c. ramsayi from southeastern Papua New Guinea has a distinctive black head with faint scalloping, more pronounced in females. Other subspecies exhibit variations in the coloration of their head, flanks, and upper tail-coverts, with differences ranging from pale grey to brown scallops and even orange hues.

Habitat

In Australia, the Chestnut-breasted Mannikin frequents reed beds and grasses along riverbanks, swamps, grassy areas, and mangroves. It is also commonly found in cane fields and cereal crops. During dry seasons, it may venture into arid regions but remains close to water sources. In New Guinea, it prefers drier areas and avoids jungle roads and clearings. As an introduced species in French Polynesia, it has adapted to bracken-covered slopes, pastures, gardens, cultivated lands, and coconut plantations.

Distribution

This species is native to Australia, New Caledonia, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea, with introductions in French Polynesia. It has established itself well in Tahiti, where it has evolved to have paler underparts and extended scalloping on the nape.

Behaviour

Outside the breeding season, the Chestnut-breasted Mannikin is a gregarious bird, forming large flocks. During breeding, pairs are mostly seen, but they will join groups for foraging. In the colder months, they may congregate in large numbers, sometimes in agricultural settings.

Diet and Feeding

The Chestnut-breasted Mannikin has a particular fondness for barley seed, earning it the local name "barley bird." It also feeds on paspalum grass, bullrush millet, and Sorghum species. In Papua New Guinea, it is known to consume feral millet and wild sugar cane.

Conservation status

The IUCN Red List classifies the Chestnut-breasted Mannikin as Least Concern, indicating that the species does not currently face a significant risk of extinction.