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 →
<5% of wildlife watchers report a Nutmeg Mannikin sighting in Joshua Tree National Park, based on 6 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
Closest Relatives at Joshua Tree National Park
Common Raven
Corvus corax
House Finch
Haemorhous mexicanus
Verdin
Auriparus flaviceps
White-crowned Sparrow
Zonotrichia leucophrys
Northern Mockingbird
Mimus polyglottos
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Setophaga coronata
Phainopepla
Phainopepla nitens
Black Phoebe
Sayornis nigricans
Say's Phoebe
Sayornis saya
Bewick's Wren
Thryomanes bewickii
Lesser Goldfinch
Spinus psaltria
Black-throated Sparrow
Amphispiza bilineata
📅 Monthly Probability
☀️ 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
Parks Where Found
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Nutmeg Mannikin in Joshua Tree National Park?
About 0% of wildlife watchers report a Nutmeg Mannikin sighting in Joshua Tree National Park, based on 6 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Nutmeg Mannikin in Joshua Tree National Park?
December has the highest sighting rate for Nutmeg Mannikin in Joshua Tree National Park in our monthly data.