Whire rumped munia feeding, Bhutan

The white-rumped munia or white-rumped mannikin (Lonchura striata), sometimes called striated finch in aviculture, is a small passerine bird from the family of waxbill “finches” (Estrildidae). The white-rumped munia is approximately 10 to 11 cm in length, with a stubby grey bill and a long black pointed tail. The adults are brown above and on the breast, and lighter below; the rump is white. There is some variation between the subspecies, but the sexes are almost impossible to distinguish in all subspecies; males have a more bulky head and bill. The white-rumped munia is a common resident breeder ranging from South Asia to southern China east to Taiwan, and through Southeast Asia south to Sumatra; it frequents open woodland, grassland and scrub, and is well able to adapt to agricultural land use. It is a gregarious bird which feeds mainly on seeds, moving through the undergrowth in groups and sometimes accompanying other birds.

As it is a drab-coloured and rather reclusive bird inhabiting dense undergrowth, the white-rumped munia is not necessarily conspicuous even where it occurs in considerable numbers. Diet is Grass seeds, mainly rice, also of other grasses (including Eragrostis), bamboo and sedge (Cyperaceae); also seeds from casuarina. Not globally threatened. Not globally threatened. Common to locally common; uncommon in some parts of range. Locally common in Indian Subcontinent and in China; common throughout SE Asia. It is classified as least concern by IUCN.