Nutmeg Mannikin
Lonchura punctulata
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Cordats)
- ClassAves (Aus)
- OrderPasseriformes
- FamilyEstrildidae (Waxbills and Allies)
- GenusLonchura (Typical Munias and Mannikins)
- SpeciesLonchura punctulata (Nutmeg Mannikin)
The scaly-breasted munia or spotted munia (Lonchura punctulata), known in the pet trade as nutmeg mannikin or spice finch, is a sparrow-sized estrildid finch native to tropical Asia. A species of the genus Lonchura, it was formally described and named by Carl Linnaeus in 1758. Its name is based on the distinct scale-like feather markings on the breast and belly. The adult is brown above and has a dark conical bill. The species has 11 subspecies across its range, which differ slightly in size and colour. This munia eats mainly grass seeds apart from berries and small insects. Wikipedia →
Closest Relatives at Cuc Phuong National Park
White-rumped Munia
Lonchura striata
Fork-tailed Sunbird
Aethopyga christinae
White-bellied Yuhina
Erpornis zantholeuca
Japanese Thrush
Turdus cardis
Rufous-throated Fulvetta
Alcippe rufogularis
Puff-throated Bulbul
Alophoixus pallidus
Yellow-browed Warbler
Phylloscopus inornatus
Grey-headed Canary-Flycatcher
Culicicapa ceylonensis
Common Tailorbird
Orthotomus sutorius
Great Iora
Aegithina lafresnayei
Puff-throated Babbler
Pellorneum ruficeps
Dark-necked Tailorbird
Orthotomus atrogularis
📅 Monthly Probability
Fewer than 5 records of Nutmeg Mannikin at Cuc Phuong National Park — not enough to chart months honestly.
☀️ When They're Spotted
Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there