Scaly-breasted Munia

Attractive small songbird of grasslands, gardens, fields, and agricultural areas. Native to India and Southeast Asia, with introduced populations scattered elsewhere around the world. Typical adults dark chestnut-brown above, white below, with fine dark scaly pattern on belly; some populations duller brown. Juveniles plain brown all over with slightly paler underparts. Typically found in small flocks, sometimes mixed with other species of munia.

Very common resident bird of grasslands, gardens and paddy fields throughout the island. It lives as flocks of about ten birds and feeds on grass seeds and paddy

Food and foraging. The scaly-breasted munia feeds mainly on grass seeds, small berries such as those of Lantana and insects.