About Lonchura atricapilla (Vieillot, 1807)
This species, the chestnut munia, is a small bird where males and females look identical, and different subspecies differ only slightly in color intensity. For the subspecies L. a. jagori, adult individuals have entirely black heads, breasts, belly centers, and undertail coverts; their backs, wings, and sides of the belly are chestnut, with brighter chestnut on the underparts and duller chestnut on the wings. The uppertail coverts are dark reddish brown, the underparts are buff, and the uppertail coverts and tail match the coloration described for adult birds. The bill is silvery grey, the eye is chestnut, and the legs are grey. The chestnut munia measures 11–12 cm in total length. Adults have a stubby pale grey-blue bill, a black head, and a brown body, with a brick red patch on the lower back that is only visible when the bird flies. Some subspecies also have a black belly. The sexes have similar appearance, while immature birds have uniform pale brown upperparts, do not have the dark head pattern of adults, and have white to pale buff underparts. The chestnut munia is a small social bird that feeds mainly on grain and other seeds. It lives in open grassland and cultivated areas. It builds a large domed grass nest in a bush or tall grass, and lays 4–7 white eggs per clutch.
