SCALY-BREASTED MUNIAS: JUVENILE MOLTING TO ADULT PLUMAGE & ADULT, CHEMIN DE CHOUCHOU, LAMENTIN, GUADALOUPE, OVERSEAS DEPARTMENT OF FRANCE, 3/13/2024 - NEW SPECIES TO LIFE LISTTO OUR EBIRD PHOTOGRAPHIC LIFE

   The first photo shows a juvenile Scaly-breasted Munia starting to molt into adult plumage.  The second photo shows an adult Scaly-breasted Munia.  These two Munias were part of a flock of about 40 who flew into some trees. We can ID these birds as Scaly-breasted Munias as follows:

• Very thick, dark, conical bill
• Adult in second photo has a rich, brown head and what we can see of its back is brown.
• In the second photo of the adult you can see some of its distinctive scale-like, black and white markings on its breast and flanks.
• The juvenile in the first photo has brownish upperparts and pale underparts.
• The juvenile in the first photo is beginning to show some of the scale-like, black and white markings on its chest.

   The Scaly-breasted Munia is native to southern Asia, but escapees from captivity have established wild populations in several parts of the world, including Guadaloupe.

   The Scaly-breasted Munia is a new species to our ebird Photographic Lfe List.  Our ebird Life List now stands at 1,126.