Black-and-white Mannikin
Lonchura bicolor
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Cordats)
- ClassAves (Aus)
- OrderPasseriformes
- FamilyEstrildidae (Waxbills and Allies)
- GenusLonchura (Typical Munias and Mannikins)
- SpeciesLonchura bicolor (Black-and-white Mannikin)
The black-and-white mannikin (Spermestes bicolor) also black-and-white munia or red-backed mannikin, is a species of estrildid finch, widely present throughout sub-Saharan Africa. It has an estimated global extent of occurrence of 4,200,000 km2 (1,600,000 sq mi). It is found in moist savanna and subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest habitat. The status of the species is evaluated as least concern. They are seedeaters, but are known to feed on algae. The black-and-white mannikin was formally described in 1843 by the British zoologist and collector Louis Fraser from a specimen collected near Cape Palmas in Liberia. Wikipedia →
10–20% of wildlife watchers report a Black-and-white Mannikin sighting in Mkomazi National Park, based on 56 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
Closest Relatives at Mkomazi National Park
Bronze Mannikin
Lonchura cucullata
Yellow-bellied Waxbill
Coccopygia quartinia
Red-faced Crimson-wing
Cryptospiza reichenovii
Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu
Uraeginthus bengalus
Green-winged Pytilia
Pytilia melba
Purple Grenadier
Uraeginthus ianthinogaster
Red-billed Firefinch
Lagonosticta senegala
Blue-capped Cordonbleu
Uraeginthus cyanocephalus
Cut-throat
Amadina fasciata
Black-faced Waxbill
Estrilda erythronotos
Crimson-rumped Waxbill
Estrilda rhodopyga
African Firefinch
Lagonosticta rubricata
📅 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 Black-and-white Mannikin in Mkomazi National Park?
About 17% of wildlife watchers report a Black-and-white Mannikin sighting in Mkomazi National Park, based on 56 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Black-and-white Mannikin in Mkomazi National Park?
June has the highest sighting rate for Black-and-white Mannikin in Mkomazi National Park in our monthly data.