Central and southern Sulawesi, Kalaotoa, Madu, and Lesser Sundas (Lombok east to Wetar, Romang, Kisar, Sermata and Babar, south to Sumba, Sawu, Ndao, Roti and Timor).
Habits
Usually in small to large flocks. Often associated with other finches, especially other munias.
Food
Seeds of grasses.
Voice
Usually quiet. A loud 'peep' given in flight and when separated from the flock. Also 'pseet' or 'psit', possibly also used in contact. Song: said to be a warbling 'weeeee', with repeated rattling phrases 'chop-i-pi-chow, chip-pi-chow'.
Pale-headed Munia (Lonchura pallida) [XC166513]
by id from Senaru, North Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia (call, flight call)
Breeding Season (Guide)
Does not breed in Australia.
J
F
M
A
M
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J
A
S
O
N
D
Subspecies
Birds from Gulf of Valley, in north-central Sulawesi, described as a geographical subspecies, subcastanea, purportedly darker rufous in colour, but plumage no different from that of specimens from elsewhere in Sulawesi.
The following 2 subspecies are recognised:
pallida (Wallace, 1863) - South-western and central Sulawesi, eastern Flores Sea, and Lesser Sundas, from Lombok east to Babar Island, including Timor and Roti, and a probably as a vagrant to north-western Australia (Ashmore Reef).
subcastanea (Hartert, 1897) - Gulf of Palu region, north-eastern Sulawesi.
The Field Guide to the Birds of Australia Pizzey, G., and Knight, E., 1997, Angus & Robertson, Sydney ISBN 0 207 19691 5
Field Guide to Australian Birds Morecombe, M., 2000, Steve Parish Publishing Pty Ltd. ISBN 1 876282 10 X
Field Guide to the Birds of Australia Simpson, K., and Day, N., 1999, 6th Edition, Viking ISBN 0 670 87918 5
Reader's Digest Complete Book of Australian Birds 1988, 2nd Edition, Reader's Digest ISBN 0 949819 99 9
What Bird is That? 1984, Revised Edition, Angus & Robertson, Sydney ISBN 0 207 14846 5
Handbook of Australian, New Zealand & Antarctic Birds 1990 - , Oxford University Press, Melbourne ISBN 0 19 553244 9
BirdLife International Species Factsheet