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Chestnut-breasted Mannikin

(Lonchura castaneothorax)
Alternative names: "Chestnut-breasted Finch", "Chestnut Finch", "Bullfinch", "Barley-bird", " Barley Sparrow"
Size: 11-12 cm

Habitat
(for details refer to a field guide)

Chestnut-breasted Mannikins are found along the north and east coast of the Australian continent and a few offshore islands. Their range extends from the Kimberleys in WA, throughout the top end of the NT, along the southern end of the Gulf of Carpentaria, all of Cape York peninsula, across all of eastern QLD (including the hills ranges of the Great Dividing Range and some part of the inland) into northern NSW, up to about Woollongong. In NSW they are normally found only on the coastal fringe and in the ranges, and only rarely on the western slopes are even the plains of the interior. However, in favourable circumstances they can extend their range a bit further inland across the entire distribution.

Chestnut-breasted Mannikins are usually found in tall grass or reeds.

Sightings

A pair of Chestnut-breasted Mannikins were spotted by us in high reeds surrounding Narrabri Lake, Narrabri, NSW, in February 2009. This location is on the western edge of the southern part of their habitat. Spotted in the same location in October 2010, when they were found to be collecting nesting material at Narrabri Lake. Subsequently a group of 5 birds was seen at the same location. Two birds were spotted in high reeds about 500 m from the previous sightings in April 2011. One of these had the darkish appearance of a male, while the other was visibly lighter (no photo available).

Photos

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Near-frontal view of a Chestnut-breasted Mannikin

Lateral view of the same bird as above

View of the back of the same bird

Breeding information

Breeding season: Sep - Apr Eggs: 4 - 6 Incubation period: 12 - 13 days Fledging age: 21 - 24 days

Given the right conditions, Chestnut-breasted Mannikins can breed any time of the year. They tend to nest in colonies.

Nest

Type: Dome basket Material: Dry grass Height above ground <2 m

Admittedly, the nest itself is not visible in this photo, but a pair of birds was seen entering this tussock with nesting material, to leave again with empty bills; the tussock is located in marshland just a few metres off the shoreline of Narrabri Lake

Here one of the birds entering the tussock; one can see the characteristic black untertail coverts; the bird was identified by eye without room for doubt

Eggs

Size: 17 x 12 mm Colour: White Shape: Tapered oval

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Communal Mobility: Dispersive Elementary unit: Small fLock

All species of finches known to us are highly sociable.

Food

Like all other finches known to us, Chestnut-breasted Mannikins feed on seeds. These include grass seeds and seeds of reeds.