Hooded Mannikins Lonchura spectablis are locally common in northern New Guinea and also occur on New Britain. In PNG their range extends from the Sepik to Wau and through the eastern and central highlands west to Tari, Southern Highlands Province (SHP) (Beehler et al 1986). The more usual form has a white breast but birds with buffish underparts occur in the lowlands along the Sepik river, and in the highlands at Karimui, Chimbu Province (Coates 1990) and at Koroba, SHP (G. Clapp pers. comm. in Coates 1990). Some of these buff-breasted forms have been given subspecific status. Others, including those at Karimui and Koroba, are considered to be subspecifically distinct but have not been formally described (Restall 1996).
On 10 September 1998, I visited the village of Halungi, in the Tani Valley, SHP (map ref. YU002562, 05o49' S 142o49' E). Halungi lies at c. 1680 m and is about 14 km west of Tari and 13 km SSE of Koroba (distances as the crow flies). In a native garden a flock of 20 Hooded Mannikins fed on grass seeds and regularly flew to a nearby pool to drink allowing ample opportunity to study their plumage. All were typical Hooded Mannikins, with largish blue-grey bills, black heads, including chin and throat (giving hooded appearance), brown wings and back, and black belly (between legs), vent and undertail coverts. However, the breast, belly (to the legs), flanks upper tail coverts and upperside of the tail were noted as a uniform buffish-orange. The plumage of all birds in the flock was similar. Two Hooded Mannikins flew off carrying grass stems and were presumably nesting nearby, suggesting these birds were adults and not immatures.
Later comparison of pictures of the Hooded Mannikins seen at Halungi with the Naturalists Colour Guide (Smithe 1975) determined cinnamon (colour number 39) to be the closest match. The Koroba birds were described as having fawn underparts (G. Clapp pers. comm. in Coates 1990) and depicted with tawny breast and flanks in Restall (1996).
This observation corroborates the sighting of non-white breasted Hooded Mannikins by Clapp at nearby Koroba. No other flocks of Hooded Mannikin were seen during my stay in the Tari area but I was told both white breasted and buff breasted forms occur in the Tari Valley (J. Tano pers. comm.)
Beehler, B., T.K. Pratt & D. Zimmerman. 1986. Birds of New Guinea. Princeton.
Coates, B.J. 1990. Birds of Papua New Guinea, Volume 2. Dove.
Restall, R. 1996. Munias and Mannikins. Pica Press.
Smithe, F.B. 1975. Naturalist's Color Guide. American Museum of Natural History.
On 10 September 1998, I visited the village of Halungi, in the Tani Valley, SHP (map ref. YU002562, 05o49' S 142o49' E). Halungi lies at c. 1680 m and is about 14 km west of Tari and 13 km SSE of Koroba (distances as the crow flies). In a native garden a flock of 20 Hooded Mannikins fed on grass seeds and regularly flew to a nearby pool to drink allowing ample opportunity to study their plumage. All were typical Hooded Mannikins, with largish blue-grey bills, black heads, including chin and throat (giving hooded appearance), brown wings and back, and black belly (between legs), vent and undertail coverts. However, the breast, belly (to the legs), flanks upper tail coverts and upperside of the tail were noted as a uniform buffish-orange. The plumage of all birds in the flock was similar. Two Hooded Mannikins flew off carrying grass stems and were presumably nesting nearby, suggesting these birds were adults and not immatures.
Later comparison of pictures of the Hooded Mannikins seen at Halungi with the Naturalists Colour Guide (Smithe 1975) determined cinnamon (colour number 39) to be the closest match. The Koroba birds were described as having fawn underparts (G. Clapp pers. comm. in Coates 1990) and depicted with tawny breast and flanks in Restall (1996).
This observation corroborates the sighting of non-white breasted Hooded Mannikins by Clapp at nearby Koroba. No other flocks of Hooded Mannikin were seen during my stay in the Tari area but I was told both white breasted and buff breasted forms occur in the Tari Valley (J. Tano pers. comm.)
Beehler, B., T.K. Pratt & D. Zimmerman. 1986. Birds of New Guinea. Princeton.
Coates, B.J. 1990. Birds of Papua New Guinea, Volume 2. Dove.
Restall, R. 1996. Munias and Mannikins. Pica Press.
Smithe, F.B. 1975. Naturalist's Color Guide. American Museum of Natural History.
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