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Chestnut-Breasted Mannikin
Lonchura castaneothorax
-26.4119, 151.824
Field Notes
Description:
Adults - sexes similar. Crown and back of neck flecked grey-brown, back and wings russet, upper tail coverts and central tail feathers straw-brown, brown outer tail feathers. Face, chin, throat and under tail coverts black, pale chestnut breast with lower edge bordered black (sometimes female band is narrower). White belly with flanks barred black. Brown eye. Bill blue-grey. Feet leaden-grey. Immatures - olive-brown above, pale buff below with brown-buff breast.
Habitat:
Wooroolin Wetlands QLD. Shrubby, grassy surrounds amongst a variety of trees. Grasses eg.. Common wheat grass, African love grass. Plenty of herbage around, also:- Yellow Buttons; Blue Burr Daisy and Lesser Joyweed. Was still good water across the flats, so birds were able to feed well.
Notes:
This photograph shows male, female and immature. Not a large flock was seen - a dozen or so. Although these photos show the birds at rest, most of the time I observed them they were nimbly clambering among the grass searching for the delicate half-ripe grass-seeds. Their bell-like, quick tlit or the longer tleit, or even the variation of twee, tee-oo, chie-ook, or chee-ing, are delightful to listen to.
Added 20/06/19 Here is a video that was taken on the 14/06/19.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVe4bUQlRbI.
The last picture was taken on 27/12/18 which shows C-b Mannikin and Plum-headed Finch mingling.
These photos are editied. References Reader's Digest Complete Book of Australian Birds and Michael Morcombe Field Guide to Australian Birds
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