Indian Silverbill

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Indian Silverbill
in Shamirpet, Rangareddy district, Andhra Pradesh, India.
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Estrildidae
Genus:	Euodice
Species:	E. malabarica
Binomial name
Euodice malabarica (Linnaeus, 1758)
Synonyms
Lonchura malabarica

The Indian Silverbill Euodice malabarica also known as White-throated Munia is a small passerine bird formerly considered conspecific with the closely related African Silverbill, Euodice cantans. This estrildid finch is a common resident breeding bird in most of Middle East and South Asia:Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, India, Islamic Republic of Iran, Israel, Jordan (introduced), Kuwait (introduced), Oman, Puerto Rico (introduced), Qatar (introduced), Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, United Arab Emirates, USA (introduced) and Virgin Islands (possibly extinct), Nice (S. France).

[edit] Characteristics

The Indian Silverbill is a tiny gregarious bird which feeds mainly on seeds. It frequents dry open country and cultivation, especially near water. The nest is a large domed grass structure in a tree, into which 4–10 white eggs are laid.

The Indian Silverbill is 11–11.5 cm in length with a long black tail. The adult has a stubby silver-grey bill, buff-brown upperparts, white underparts and rump and dark wings. The sexes are similar, but immatures have buff underparts and a shorter tail.

[edit] References

• BirdLife International (2004). Lonchura malabarica. 2006. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. www.iucnredlist.org. Retrieved on 8 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
• Birds of India by Grimmett, Inskipp and Inskipp, ISBN 0-691-04910-6

[edit] Habits, Behavior etc.

at nest at Pocharam lake, Andhra Pradesh, India.	at nest at Pocharam lake, Andhra Pradesh, India.	at nest at Pocharam lake, Andhra Pradesh, India.	in Hyderabad, India.	bathing in Shamirpet, Rangareddy district, Andhra Pradesh, India.
bathing in Shamirpet, Rangareddy district, Andhra Pradesh, India.	in Hyderabad, India.	in Hyderabad, India.	at Sindhrot in Vadodara District of Gujarat, India.	at Sindhrot in Vadodara District of Gujarat, India.
at Sindhrot in Vadodara District of Gujarat, India.	Foraging at Hodal in Faridabad District of Haryana, India.	near Hodal in Faridabad District of Haryana, India.

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