Scaly-breasted Munia

Description:

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 first described by Carl Linnaeus in 1758. Its name is descriptive of the distinct scale-like appearance of the feathers on its anterior portions, namely the breast and belly. The adult form is usually brown in coloration and characterized by a dark bill, brown underparts, and a dark rostrum. L. punctulata encompasses 11 subspecies, which may individually vary in their appearance, range or behavior.