Bronze Mannikin
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Order: Passeriformes
Family: Estrildidae
Synonyms: Spermestes cucullatus

[Photo] Bronze Mannikins (Lonchura cucullata) on a papyrus, South Africa. Source: Flickr (www.flickr.com/photos/mydigicam/102744450/). Date: Taken on February 19, 2006. Author: MBoy68 (www.flickr.com/photos/mydigicam/).

The Bronze Mannikin or Bronze Munia Lonchura cucullata is a small passerine (i.e. perching) bird. This estrildid finch is an abundant resident breeding bird in much of Africa south of the Sahara Desert of dry savanna habitats. It has an estimated global extent of occurrence of 8,100,000 km².

Characteristics
The Bronze Mannikin is a tiny gregarious bird which feeds mainly on seeds. It frequents open country and cultivation, especially near water.

The nest is a large domed grass structure in a tree, into which 4-8 white eggs are laid. This species also builds communal roosting nests, used overnight and dismantled and rebuilt daily.

The Bronze Mannikin is 9-10cm in length with a long black tail. The adult has a stubby grey bill, brown upperparts, a dark purple head and white underparts with dark flank markings. There is an iridescent green shoulder patch.

The sexes are similar, but immatures are plain brown above with buff head and underparts. This species has a number of calls including a rreep-rreeep in flight and a twittering when perched.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bronze_Mannikin

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