As per the book 'Birds of the Indian Subcontinent' by Grimmett, Inskipp, and Inskipp Scaly-breasted Munia is not found in Hyderabad. It resides in almost all parts of India but not here. Nonetheless, I saw the bird in Hyderabad. I first saw one Scaly-breasted Munia in IISc Bangalore. Later, I saw the bird in Hyderabad. It is a small bird with a distinct beak and colours. I have now seen this bird many times and in large numbers too.
You can spot a Scaly-breasted Munia sitting atop trees and often in groups of 2 to 8. They like to sit in groups, unlike many other birds who prefer being alone.
How do you identify Scaly-breasted Munia?
- Scales (like that of a fish) on the breast
- Unique shape of the beak
- Brown-coloured head
- The male and female look similar.
- No change in colours during breeding season
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| By Yathin S Krishnappa (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons |
Where will you find Scaly-breasted Munias?
As per the book, Birds of the Indian Subcontinent by Grimmett, Inskipp, and Inskipp
- It is found everywhere in India
- Except for large parts of west Rajasthan
- Except for parts of Telangana*, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and the Himalayas
* Whatever anyone says, remember that nature can always surprise you.
Habits and Habitats
I have seen this bird in my backyard and in Botanical Garden (a reserve forest). The area behind my apartment has around 50 trees and I have seen this bird sitting atop a tree which was aloof and had very less leaves.
When will you see Scaly-breasted Munias?
This bird is a resident in India and hence you should be able to see it all the year round. In Hyderabad, I have not seen this bird in the summer and it only started to be found since the monsoon set in. I expect this bird to be around till winters. In places where it is a resident, it should be found all year round.
Video of Scaly-breasted Munia
Here is another video with a good view.
