Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
Although this species appears to be confined to a relatively small area of north-west New Guinea's grasslands, there is no reason to suspect it has a small population size, or that it is declining. In fact, it may be benefiting from ongoing small-scale forest clearance in its range. For this reason it is assessed as Least Concern.
Population justification
The population size of this species has not been estimated. It is currently suspected of having a small range (although it may yet prove more widespread) where it is common, occurring in flocks of up to 120 (eBird 2022).
Trend justification
There are no trend data available for this species; however, in the absence of ongoing threats known to be impacting it, the population is suspected of being stable. Small-scale ongoing forest loss may in fact benefit this grassland species (R. Hutchinson in litt. 2022).
Lonchura vana was previously known from only a single collecting locality and a handful of sight records (Beehler and Pratt 2016); however, more recent observations (eBird 2022) indicate it is a relatively common bird in the eastern Arfak Mountains in north-west Papua, Indonesia. Records centre around the grasslands of Anggi Giji and Anggi Gita and villages/grasslands to the north (eBird 2022). Given how poorly the Arfaks have been explored, it is quite likely that the species may prove to occur elsewhere. A sight record from the Kebar Valley, Tamrau Mountains (Beehler and Pratt 2016) has now been confirmed (F. Hasudungan in litt. 2022).
This species inhabits mid-mountain wet grassland and marshland, where it has only been recorded between 1,800 m and 2,100 m (Beehler and Pratt 2016, eBird 2022), though it may prove more widely distributed altitudinally. Small flocks have been seen on low weeds in recently abandoned agricultural plots, sometimes near human settlements.
No threats are known. Its habitat appears to be naturally scarce, and although it may locally suffer from drainage for conversion to agriculture (D. Gibbs in litt. 1994) it appears well adapted to this habitat, and cleared areas appear to be expanding in the region as forest is logged. Other mannikins have appeared in the cagebird trade and this may prove a threat to this species, although this has not yet occurred. As a montane species, climate change may be a future threat.
Conservation Actions Underway
No targeted conservation actions are known. The Pegunungan Arfak Nature Reserve in the Arfak Mountains may support suitable habitat (Sujatnika et al. 1995).
10 cm. Grey head, brownish-grey breast, narrow, grey lower breast-band, rufous-brown belly, dark brown mantle and wings, and pale yellow rump and tail. Similar spp. Other pale-headed munias elsewhere in New Guinea have different pattern to underparts. On Vogelkop, Streak-headed Mannikin L. tristissima is all dark except for yellowish rump and uppertail-coverts, and inhabits lowland forest edge. Voice High, thin ts ts ts ... Hints Search wet grasslands and different agricultural crops beside Anggi Gigi.
Text account compilers
Berryman, A.
Contributors
Bishop, K.D., Bostock, N., Gibbs, D., Hasudungan, F. & Hutchinson, R.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Grey-banded Mannikin Lonchura vana. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/grey-banded-mannikin-lonchura-vana on 22/11/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 22/11/2024.