Bird
Black-faced Munia
Lonchura moluccaAlso known as Moluccan Munia, Moluccan Mannikin
Black-faced munias are gregarious estrildid finches that travel in bustling flocks across open grassy landscapes, often wheeling together in tight aerial formations when startled. They construct bulky, domed grass nests tucked into dense shrubs or tree forks, where both parents share incubation duties and brood-rearing. While busily gleaning fallen seeds from agricultural fields and roadsides, flock members maintain cohesion through soft, high-pitched peeping calls.
FlockingGranivoreSongbird
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyGrass seeds, Weed seeds, Rice grains
Predators
- Vinous-breasted Sparrowhawk
- Feral cats
- Tree snakes
ThreatsAgricultural intensification and local trapping for the cage-bird trade
HabitatsGrasslands, scrublands, forest edges, savannas, and agricultural land
Life span5–8 years
Classification
- FamilyEstrildidae
- SpeciesLonchura molucca
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Flock Watching: Scan open grassy clearings and agricultural edges in early morning to spot foraging parties.
- Quiet Approach: Move slowly to prevent tight-knit feeding flocks from flushing into protective cover.
Image unavailablePredator 
Close Relative Charles J. Sharp / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) anukma, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by anukma · cc-by
Same Family (c) Andrew Allen, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Andrew Allen · cc-by
Help improve the field guideSomething wrong?
Checking your Fauna account…Report a name, category, or profile issue for review.