Nutmeg Mannikin (Lonchura punctulata), San Pedro House, Sierra Vista, Cochise County

This Nutmeg Mannikin was discovered by Stuart Healy on 27 February 2009 and photographed by Mark Sharon on 28 February 2009 at the feeders of the San Pedro House. 

Widespread and common throughout much of southern Asia, the Nutmeg Mannikin is a popular cage bird and is often seen as an escape in North America.  It is an established exotic in Hawaii but is not countable anywhere in the ABA area.  Its status in the rest of North America is unclear.  Some claims have been made that it is an established breeder in California and Florida, but these may not be accurate.  eBird shows it regularly reported in coastal California, SE Florida, the Gulf Coast of Texas and the Puget Sound area in Washington.   

It has many other common names such as the Ricebird, Scaly-breasted Munia, and Spotted Munia.

28 February 2009, photo by Mark Sharon

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