General

Chestnut Munia (Palau): Small red-brown finch with black hood and breast, and narrow, blue-gray eyering. Some birds also show black on the belly and vent. Sexes similar. Strong, conical blue-gray bill. Slightly pointed, longish red-brown tail. White-gray legs and feet. Juvenile is gray-brown with black bill. Forages for seeds in grass, and weedy fields. Also takes small insects, especially during the breeding season. Short, direct flight with quick wingbeats.

Breeding and Nesting

Chestnut Munia (Palau): Four to seven white eggs are laid in a large, domed nest made of grass, and small twigs. The nest is lined with fine, soft grass, and built in a low bush, bamboo clump, or short tree. Both sexes incubate the eggs for 12 to 14 days.

Foraging and Feeding

Chestnut Munia (Palau): Mostly feeds on grass seeds, rice, and small seeds from other plants. Also takes small larvae and insects during the breeding season. This species typically forages in small flocks and pick seeds and insects off of stems and from the ground.

Vocalization

Chestnut Munia (Palau): Most calls are a clear "pee" or "peet." Its song incorporates a series of very soft clicks followed by "weeeee".

Similar Species

Black-headed Bunting has yellow underparts and rufous upperparts. Scaly-breasted Munia is assumed to be extirpated from Palau.