General

Nutmeg Mannikin: Small finch with chestnut-brown upperparts and dark-scaled white underparts. Head is richer brown and bill is heavy and dark. Sexes are similar. Juvenile is duller with plain olive-brown underparts. Introduced to parts of California and Florida from Asia.

Range and Habitat

Nutmeg Mannikin: Resident from India to Taiwan, south to Sri Lanka, and through southeast Asia to East Indies and Philippines. Introduced and established in Hawaii (widespread on all main islands); also introduced to Australia. Preferred habitats include reed beds, rank grass, scrub areas, grasslands, orchards, and cultivated lands, often near human habitation.

Breeding and Nesting

Nutmeg Mannikin: Three to seven white eggs are laid in a globular, compact nest with a side entrance made of grass and leaves, lined with fine grass, and built in a small shrub or a bushy tree. Eggs are incubated for 14 days by both parents.

Foraging and Feeding

Nutmeg Mannikin: Eats small seeds, greens, and scraps left by humans as well as insects, especially when breeding.

Readily Eats

Millet, Commercial Mixed Bird Seed

Vocalization

Nutmeg Mannikin: Call is a plaintive "chee, ba-hee." Song is "ki-ki-te-te."

Similar Species

Nutmeg Mannikin: Juveniles of various Munia species look alike. Scaly-breasted juveniles often flock with juveniles of other species.