Date: Sun, 29 Oct 2000 18:55:52 -0400 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: paula sullivan Subject: Re: White-Headed Monia MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; x-mac-type="54455854"; x-mac-creator="4D4F5353" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Mike Callahan wrote: > Hi fellow MDOspreyers, > > I was birding with a friend at Wootons Landing in Southern Anne Arundel > County this morning and saw the most unusual bird. It was brown with a > white head, dark eye and was sparrow sized. It was hanging out with a > small flock of mixed sparrows. My friend thought it was some type of > Monia or Mannikin. Obviously this bird is not in the typical guides > carried into the field, so upon returning he looked it up in his Mannikin > and Monia book and it appeared to be a White-Headed Monia. > I believe this bird is from Vietnam and Thailand, so it is likely an > escapee. Mike, Curious to see a photo of this bird, I thought I'd see if it was pictured in a guide I have to birds of Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore, and there it was, called the White-headed Munia (slightly different spelling), latin name: Lonchura maja in the family Estrildidae. Being a likely escapee and native of the Asian tropics as you note, I suppose it will not last through the winter. I still find it interesting that it has found some local birds with which it has a lot in common, being a bird of "open country along the coastal plains, marsh fields and cultivated areas." My guide also says: "In the right habitat it can form large, dense flocks moving around to feed vigorously, picking off seeds low in the tall grass, sometimes on the ground." The guide adds that they will socialize and join mixed species flocks. It's amazing that a bird used to a cage will be able to find the right habitat, food, and compatible species with which to hang out. Paula Sullivan Alexandria, VA paulas@erols.com ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================