Chestnut - breasted Mannikin

These little birds are called Chestnut-breasted Mannikin - Lonchura castaneothorax and I could not get any closer for photographs than these shots.  They were taken near Innisfail, Queensland.

They are 12 cm, common, sedentary or seasonally nomadic.

Their habitat is clumps of rank, tall grass in damp environs, wet grassland, swamp margins and swampy heath, mangroves, cane fields, rice fields. They congregate in small to large flocks. 

Even in the breeding season the flock keeps fairly close, forming a loose breeding colony.

When feeding, birds climb strong grass stems to snip away the seed heads.

Their contact call is a clear, bell-like, quick ‘tlit’; when used among a feeding flock, a slightly longer ‘tleit’. The song is a long series of fine, clear notes in many variations: sounds such as ‘twee, tee-oo, chie-ook, chee-ing’.

Breeds in Wet in coastal N; inland, any time after good rain. Highly social, often in large flocks; nests in colonies. Small, tall, domed ovoid of grass, fine grass lining, up to 2 m from ground in tall grass, reeds, scrub, sugarcane or some other tall crop.

 Clutch 4–7 (17 x 12 mm). Incubation 12–13 days; young fledge at 21–22 days.

I hope you enjoyed see this little bird from Australia.

Thank you for visiting.

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I am linking this post with WILD BIRD WEDNESDAY