Description
The White-rumped Munia is approximately 10 to 11 cm in length, with a stubby grey bill and a long black pointed tail. The adults are brown above and on the breast, and lighter below; the rump is white. There is some variation between the subspecies, but the sexes are almost impossible to distinguish in all subspecies; males have a more bulky head and bill.
Subspecies include:
- Lonchura striata acuticauda – Northwestern White-rumped Munia. Northern Indian mainland below c.1,500 meters ASL, north through the Himalayas foothills of Bhutan and Nepal to the Dehradun region of Uttarakhand (India).
- Medium brown above, except on the face and remiges, buffy below.
- Lonchura (striata) domestica – Society Finch. Domesticated; naturalized in Japan.
- A number of breeds have been developed, ranging from white through yellowish, grey, rufous and brown to almost black, with more or less lighter belly; piebald birds are common, and more fanciful breeds with crests or curled feathers are also available.
- Lonchura striata semistriata – Nicobar White-rumped Munia. Car Nicobar and Central (Nancowry) group, Nicobar Islands
- Lonchura striata squamicollis – Chinese White-rumped Munia. Southwestern China and adjacent regions.
- Lonchura striata striata – Southwestern White-rumped Munia. Southern Indian mainland
- Dark chocolate-brown above, white below.
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