Tricolored Munia
Photo: Davidvraju · CC BY-SA 4.0

Munias, Parrotfinches, Waxbills, and Allies

Tricolored Munia

Lonchura malacca

LCLeast Concern
Family
Munias, Parrotfinches, Waxbills, and Allies (Estrildidae)
Order
Passeriformes

Overview

The tricoloured munia (Lonchura malacca) is an estrildid finch, native to Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and southern China. The species has also been introduced to the Caribbean, in Trinidad, Jamaica, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, Cuba, and Venezuela. This species, like the chestnut munia has been known as the black-headed munia. Immature birds have pale brown upperparts, lack the dark head found in adults, and have uniform buff underparts that can be confused with immatures of other munias such as the scaly-breasted munia.

Summary from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Range and habitat

Peninsular India and Sri Lanka; introduced widely in Caribbean and northern South America.

Range description: AviList Global Avian Checklist.

Sources and further reading

Last updated September 29, 2026.