Nutmeg Mannikin (Lonchura punctulata), Sweetwater Wetlands, Pima County

This Nutmeg Mannikin was found by Moez Ali on 11 November 2009 and photographed by William Higgins on 01 December 2009.

Widespread and common throughout much of southern Asia, the Nutmeg Mannikin is a popular cage bird and is often seen as an escape in North America. It is an established exotic in Hawaii but is not countable anywhere in the ABA area. The species is an established and expanding breeder in southern California, with separate populations in Santa Barbara and the greater Los Angles area though these populations are starting to fill in the gaps. It is a species that the California Bird Records Committee is following closely for possible addition to the California state list. It also possibly breeds in Florida and eBird shows it regularly reported in coastal California, SE Florida, the Gulf Coast of Texas and the Puget Sound area in Washington. All birds seen in Arizona are presumed to be escapes and there is as yet no evidence of breeding in the state.  However, this is the third one documented this year so one has to begin to wonder. 

It has many other common names such as the Ricebird, Scaly-breasted Munia, and Spotted Munia.

Unmistakable large bill, rich chestnut body and prominent white scaling below.

01 December 2009, photo by William Higgins

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