Lonchura atricapilla | chestnut munia

Chestnut Munia, photo by Alex Wang

Introduced

Other Names: black-headed munia

Chestnut munias are seed-eating finches with a preference for wet areas. Males are chestnut brown with black heads and hefty silver-blue beaks. Females are light brown without black coloring on their heads. Originally from southeast Asia and Indonesia these handsome escaped pets are now naturalized in Hawaiʻi.

The map below shows hotspots along our birding trails where you might see this bird.

Hotspots for chestnut munia

Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge

Wetland

Hanalei NWR, photo by USFWS
LookoutHikingBathroomParkingInterpretive Signage

Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge

Coastal

Kilauea Point NWR, photo by D Peebles
LookoutHikingBathroomParkingInterpretive SignageRanger Station

Kuilau Trail

Wet forest

Kuilau Trail, photo by DOFAW
HikingParkingPicnic area

Māhā’ulepū Heritage Trail

Coastal

Akoko, photo by Kauai PEPP
HikingParking

Salt Pond Beach Park

Coastal

Salt Pond Beach Park
LookoutBathroomParkingPicnic areaTrash

Kawaiʻele State Waterbird Sanctuary

Wetland

Kawaiele State Waterbird Sanctuary, photo by DLNR
LookoutHikingParkingInterpretive Signage

Pihea Trail

Wet forest

Pihea Trail, photo by DOFAW
LookoutHikingParking

Nuʻupia Pond

Wetland

Nuupia Pond, photo courtesy of USMC
Hiking

ʻAiea Loop Trail

Wet forest

Aiea Loop Trail, photo by DLNR
HikingBathroomParkingPicnic areaTrash

Betty Bliss Memorial Overlook

Wetland

Betty Bliss Memorial Overlook, photo by USFWS
LookoutHikingInterpretive Signage

Kapiʻolani Park

Pasture and grasslands

Kapiolani Park, photo courtesy of City and County of Honolulu Dept of Parks and Rec
HikingBathroomParkingPicnic areaTrash

Paikō Lagoon Wildlife Sanctuary

Wetland

Paiko Laggon Sanctuary, photo by Keri Rouse
LookoutBathroomParkingPicnic areaTrash

Kawainui Marsh

Wetland

Kawainui Marsh, photo by DOFAW
LookoutHikingParking

Lāʻie Point State Wayside Park

Coastal

Lāʻie Point State Wayside, photo by DLNR
LookoutParkingTrash

James Campbell National Wildlife Refuge

Wetland

Kioea at James Campbell NWR, photo by Lainie Berry
HikingParking

Waimea Valley

WetlandWet forest

Waimea Valley, photo courtesy of Hi'ipaka LLC
HikingBathroomParkingInterpretive SignageTrash

Kaʻena Point Trail

Coastal

Kaʻena Point State Park, photo by DLNR
HikingParkingInterpretive Signage

Keālia Pond National Wildlife Refuge

Wetland

Kealia Pond NWR, photo by USFWS
LookoutHikingBathroomParkingInterpretive SignageRanger StationPicnic areaTrash

Kanahā Pond State Wildlife Sanctuary

Wetland

Kanahā Pond State Wildlife Sanctuary, photo by Jeff Bagshaw
LookoutParking

SIDE TRIP: Wai‘ānapanpa State Park

Coastal

Waiʻānapanapa State Park, photo by DLNR
LookoutHikingBathroomParkingInterpretive SignagePicnic areaTrash

Kahakapao Recreation Area

Wet forest

Makawao Forest Reserve, photo by DLNR
HikingBathroomParkingPicnic areaTrash

Polipoli Spring State Recreation Area

Dry forest

Polipoli Trail, photo by DLNR
HikingDrivingBathroomParkingPicnic areaTrash

Hosmer Grove (Haleakalā National Park)

Dry forest

Hosmer Grove, NPS Photo by Megan Miller
LookoutHikingDrivingBathroomParkingInterpretive SignageRanger StationPicnic areaTrash
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