Some of the Lonchura species were formerly placed in Spermestes. Others have been placed in a genus of their own, Euodice.
Characteristics
They are small gregarious birds which feed mainly on seeds, usually in relatively open habitats, preferring to feed on the ground or on reeds of grasses. Several species have been noted to feed on algae such as Spirogyra.[2][3]
The nest is a large domed grass structure into which four to ten white eggs are laid. Some species also build communal roosting nests for overnight rest.
The species in this genus are similar in size and structure, with stubby bills, stocky bodies and long tails. Most are 10–12 cm in length. Plumage is usually a combination of browns, black and white, with the sexes similar, but duller and less contrasted for immature birds.
The similarities within this group and the existence of subspecies with differing vocalisations and plumage mean that some races may be elevated to species status. African and Indian silverbill are now usually considered distinct species in the Genus Euodice, and the two races of black-throated munia are often also split.
The munias are popular in the bird trade and many freed or escaped birds have formed feral colonies in different pockets across the world.
The red muniaAmandava amandava and green muniaAmandava formosa also take the name munia, but are in the genus Amandava.
Taxonomy
The genus Lonchura was introduced by the English naturalist William Henry Sykes in 1832.[4] The name combines the Ancient Greeklonkhē meaning "spear-head" or "lance" with oura meaning "tail".[5] Sykes included three species in the genus and of these the type species was designated as Fringilla nisoriaTemminck 1830 by Arend Wiegmann in 1835. This taxon is now a subspecies, Loxia punctulata nisoria, of the scaly-breasted munia.[6][7]
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