Javan Munia
BirdCare.com.au
PO  Box 126 Mitcham Vic 3132 ( Victoria, Australia )

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  • Scientific Name: Lonchura leucogastroides
  • Common Name/s: JAVAN MUNIA
  • Sub Species in country / area of origin:  None
  • Origin / Distribution: Indonesia and surrounding islands.
  • Habitat In Wild: Forested areas and uses farmlands.  They frequent rice paddies to forage for rice grains.
  • Status In Wild: Secure
  • Status In (Australian) Captivity: Gene pool in becoming depleted.  Numbers need to be higher.  Not common.  Numbers can vary widely and often become "unpopular".
  • Age To Sexual Maturity: ?
  • Adult plumage: attained at about ? months  
  • Best breeding years (estimate): 12 months - 5th year.
  • Lifespan (estimate):  approx. 7 years
  • Sexing:  Monomorphic / Dimorphic
  • Colour mutations:  No
  • Availability:  Bird dealers. May be hard to find pairs.
  • Temperament:  Not a colourful bird.  Peaceful hardy birds.  Ideal for a mixed species collection, as a colony or as a single pair in a cage.  Easy to feed.  Easy to breed. 
  • Cost (Victoria) Per Pair: - Normal colour (Approx.) $120
  • Description Of Adults:
  1. Length: Approx. 100 - 110 mm (or approx.  4 - 4.5 inches)
  2. Colour ( "normal" colour ): Refer photo/s above if available.
  3. Weight: Approx. 9 - 10 gms (or approx. 1/3 ozs)

Aviary Notes:

Level Of Knowledge Required: Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced / Specialist Breeders Only.

Government Regulations & By-Laws:  Refer to "Government Laws" web page.

Housing Requirements:  Click on "Housing birds" web page for general details on the housing of Non Australian Finches or read on for specific details for this finch.

The Javan Munia is closely related to other mannikins and the Bengalese finch and will hybridize with these species.  Ideal for a mixed species collection, as colony or as a single pair in a cage.

They like a well planted aviary but this is not essential.  Shrubs, tall growing grasses and potted bamboo are ideal.

Diet / Feeding:  Click on "Feeding birds" web page for general details on the nutrition of  Non Australian Finches or read on for specific details for this finch.

The Javan Munia will breed successfully on seed and green foods only.  Apart from obtaining food, these birds are not often on the floor.

Good quality finch mix, seeding grasses and some fruits (e.g. apple) and some leafy green vegetables can be offered.  Live food is not essential during the non-breeding season but may be beneficial during breeding season.  Medium size mealworms and small crickets can be offered.  The mealworm pupa and the beetle stage can be offered to the birds.  In a mixed finch collection they may eat the other insects offered to the other birds.  They will eat large quantities of ripe or semi ripe seed heads.  Sprouted or soaked seed if available.

Basic seed mix should include Canary seed, White French Millet, Japanese Millet, and Yellow and Red Panicum.

Nesting:  A basic overview only.

  • Roosting nest: Yes / No
  • Nesting months:  Spring to early autumn.
  • Nesting receptacles:  Will build a nest in a shrub or dry brush.  Equally it will build a nest in a wide variety of artificial nests including half open nest boxes.
  • Nest:  Both parents build a large dome shaped nest with a side entrance out of grasses and other suitable materials.  Nest is lined with feathers and soft fine grasses such as Swamp or November grass.
  • Who incubates the eggs: Hen / cock / both share.

Moderate nest inspection will generally be tolerated.  In an aviary it is generally safe to leave the young in the same aviary after they become independent.  Young birds (when they become fully independent) must be removed when bred in a cage.

More details on finch nests and a selection of finch nest photos can be located on the "nests", "finch nests" and "finch nest photos" web pages.  Click on "Up" then "nests" then "finch nests" and "finch nests photos" in the navigation bars.   

Breeding: Egg Colour White.  Clutch/s per year 2 or 3.  Eggs per nest 3 - 6.  Incubation approx.  14 days.  Fledge approx. 21 days.  Independent approx. another 3 - 4 weeks.

The Javan Munia can be successfully bred as one pair in a canary style cage.  They are used overseas as foster parents for birds that only need a seed/grain diet.

They are closely related to other mannikins, Lonchura species and the Bengalese finch and will hybridize with these species.

Pair bonding for the breeding season is strong but different partners can be paired up each breeding season.

Artificial incubation, hand rearing or fostering will not be covered on this web site.  It is too complex and diverse in nature to be attempted here.  Refer "Specific References" as listed below and "General References" listings.

Health Issues: Refer "Avian Health Issues" web page for information and references.

  • Worming and parasite control and Quarantine requirements of new birds or sick birds are considered to require veterinary advice and therefore not covered on this web site.  Refer above option - "Avian Health Issues" web page.
  • Avian medicine is advancing at a rapid pace.  Keep updating your knowledge and skills.

General References:  Refer to references listed on "Book References" web page.

Specific References:

  • Australian Aviculture

  • A/A Vol 57 No.12 Dec 2003 Page 275-276.
  • Australian Birdkeeper
  • ABK Vol 17 Issue 1. Feb-Mar 2004 Page 11-13 (Javan munia).

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