• Home
  • Search
  • About Us
  • Contact

Birds of the Philippines

Photos and videos of wild birds found in the Philippines. We travel all over the Philippines to document and take pictures of birds. Our goal is to make this site a resource of information and images about wild birds of the Philippines.

  1. Birds of the Philippines
  2. Waxbills, Munias and allies

White-Bellied Munia

WHITE-BELLIED MUNIA
Lonchura leucogastra
Estrildidae Family

common, resident
L 114 mm (4 1/2")

Bird #202 - June 2009

This is a small bird around 4 1/2". It is the same size as the more common Chestnut and Scaly-breasted Munia.

We first saw this bird on a dirt road near the Puerto Princesa airport. It was with some Chestnut Munias. It is supposed to be common but we have only seen this bird four times so far. Once in Puerto Princessa in 2009, then in Busuanga in 2009, UP Diliman in 2010 and our last sighting in Antipolo in 2011.  We saw them in good numbers in these areas so it must be that they are common in the countryside and less common in the city.

 Munias and finches in general used to be trapped and sold in cages outside churches. Maybe these birds will make a comeback if they are left alone.

We have seen this bird in small and large flocks feeding on wild rice and the flowering bamboo.  It looks similar to the more common Scaly-breasted Munia but a loser look will show a more solid brown chest and a white belly.
Read More
WHITE-BELLIED MUNIA
<i>Lonchura leucogastra</i>
Antipolo, Rizal

We were guests of Jeanne and Iggy Tan in their beautiful home in Antipolo. In their garden we saw a small flock of around six birds eating the flowers of a bamboo plant.
1 / 8

WHITE-BELLIED MUNIA Lonchura leucogastra Antipolo, Rizal We were guests of Jeanne and Iggy Tan in their beautiful home in Antipolo. In their garden we saw a small flock of around six birds eating the flowers of a bamboo plant.

whitebellied munialonchura leucogastrapuerto princesabirdpalawanmuniaresidentantipolorizaltonjitonji and sylviaphilippinebirdlist

  • WHITE-BELLIED MUNIA
<i>Lonchura leucogastra</i>
Antipolo, Rizal

We were guests of Jeanne and Iggy Tan in their beautiful home in Antipolo. In their garden we saw a small flock of around six birds eating the flowers of a bamboo plant.
  • WHITE-BELLIED MUNIA
<i>Lonchura leucogastra</i>
Antipolo, Rizal

We were guests of Jeanne and Iggy Tan in their beautiful home in Antipolo. In their garden we saw a small flock of around six birds eating the flowers of a bamboo plant.
  • WHITE-BELLIED MUNIA
  • WHITE-BELLIED MUNIA
  • WHITE-BELLIED MUNIA
  • WHITE-BELLIED MUNIA
<i>Lonchura leucogastra</i>
Puerto Princesa, Palawan
  • WHITE-BELLIED MUNIA
<i>Lonchura leucogastra</i>
Puerto Princesa, Palawan
  • WHITE-BELLIED MUNIA
  • No Comments
Fatbirder's Top 1000 Birding Websites
  • Photo Sharing
  • About SmugMug
  • Browse Photos
  • Prints & Gifts
  • Terms
  • Privacy
  • Contact
  • Owner Log In
© 2021 SmugMug, Inc.