Lonchura caniceps
The Grey-headed Mannikin (*Lonchura caniceps*) is a charming, diminutive estrildid finch, typically measuring 10-11 cm (4 inches) in length and weighing around 10-12 grams. Its most striking feature is its distinct, pale grey head and upper neck, which contrasts sharply with its rich chestnut-brown body, wings, and tail. A prominent white rump is often visible in flight, serving as a key identification mark alongside its short, stout, pale bluish-grey conical bill. This species belongs to the...
This species inhabits open grasslands, savannas, cultivated areas, and forest edges, thriving in disturbed landscapes and areas with abundant tall grasses, typically at elevations up to 1,500 meters.
The Grey-headed Mannikin is primarily granivorous, feeding mainly on a variety of grass seeds, which it extracts with its robust bill. It may occasionally supplement its diet with small insects, particularly during the breeding season.
This highly social finch is primarily diurnal, spending much of its day foraging in often large, cohesive flocks, sometimes numbering in the hundreds, especially outside the breeding season. It forages predominantly on the ground or on seeding grasses, deftly plucking seeds with its specialized c...
The Grey-headed Mannikin is endemic to the island of New Guinea and its surrounding satellite islands. Its primary distribution covers much of the lowlands and foothills across both the Indonesian provinces of West Papua and Papua, and the independent nation of Papua New Guinea. Specifically, it ...
Least Concern
- The Grey-headed Mannikin's scientific name *Lonchura caniceps* translates roughly to "lance-tailed grey-head," though "mannikin" is a diminutive of "man," referring to its small size. - Despite its widespread distribution across New Guinea, its distinct grey head makes it easily distinguishable...