About Lonchura malacca (Linnaeus, 1766)
The tricoloured munia, scientifically named Lonchura malacca (Linnaeus, 1766), is an estrildid finch. It is native to Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and southern China, and has been introduced to the Caribbean, including Trinidad, Jamaica, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, Cuba, and Venezuela. Like the chestnut munia, this species has previously been referred to as the black-headed munia. Immature tricoloured munias have pale brown upperparts, do not have the dark head seen in adult birds, and have uniform buff underparts. This appearance can lead to confusion between immature tricoloured munias and young of other munia species, such as the scaly-breasted munia. The tricoloured munia is a small, gregarious bird that feeds primarily on grain and other seeds. It lives in wet grassland habitats, and can also be found in tropical lowland moist forest habitats.
