White-rumped Munia (Lonchura striata) feeding on green Algae

[Samrat Sarkar]

Very close to where I live I have seen nests of different kinds of birds in the monsoon periods; specially, in front of our house a flock of White rumped Munia (WRM) make their nests every year, sometimes on deodar trees, sometimes on plantations of pointed gourds (parwal), in the boxes hanging from electric poles etc. Today I will post some pictures on the feeding behavior of these WRMs. The WRMs feed mainly on grass seeds, on young bamboo shoots etc. They feed their nestlings small insects; but they eat another food regularly on the basis of availability- that is green algae (Spirogyra SP.). Mr. Salim Ali has also mentioned this in his famous book (Pillai, JBHNS, 65:490). This is obviously a rather unusual feeding habit of the WRMs. It is heard that they feed on the green algae to meet their regular protein requirements. But I am not confident that the WRM seen here feeding is spirogyra or not, but it certainly is an algae.

Out of about ten birds I have exactly identified a particular WRM with a visible white distinguishable spot just below its left ear.
Date - 19.07.15
Equipment used Canon 7D + Canon 500mm f4 + Monopod

Picture 1