Munias, Parrotfinches, Waxbills, and Allies
Western Alpine Mannikin
Lonchura montana
- Family
- Munias, Parrotfinches, Waxbills, and Allies (Estrildidae)
- Order
- Passeriformes
Overview
The western alpine mannikin (Lonchura montana) also known as Snow Mountain mannikin or western alpine munia is a small, approximately 11.5 cm long, estrildid finch. Both sexes are similar with dark brown plumage, black face, buff chest and black-barred white abdomen. The young has black bill, dark brown plumage and buffy-white below.
Endemic to Indonesia, the western alpine mannikin is distributed in alpine grassland of the Snow Mountains and Star Mountains in western New Guinea.
Summary from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Range and habitat
Western New Guinea (Snow Mountains) and Mount Capella (Papua New Guinea).
Range description: AviList Global Avian Checklist.
Countries
Sources and further reading
- Wikipedia: Western alpine mannikin
- eBird: sightings, maps and photos
- xeno-canto: sound recordings
- Birds of the World: full species account (subscription)
- BirdLife DataZone: status and threats
- IUCN Red List (threat status)
- AviList global checklist (taxonomy)
Last updated September 29, 2026.
