Justification of Red List category
This species has an extremely large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence <20,000 km2 combined with a declining or fluctuating range size, habitat extent/quality, or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation). The population trend appears to be stable, and hence the species does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (>30% decline over ten years or three generations). The population size has not been quantified, but it is not believed to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (<10,000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be >10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern.
Population justification
The global population size has not been quantified, but the species is described as abundant, common or locally common (Clement 1999), while national population estimates include: c.10,000-100,000 breeding pairs in China; c.10,000-100,000 breeding pairs in Taiwan and c.100-10,000 introduced breeding pairs in Japan (Brazil 2009).
Trend justification
The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.
Text account compilers
Butchart, S. & Ekstrom, J.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Scaly-breasted Munia Lonchura punctulata. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/scaly-breasted-munia-lonchura-punctulata on 18/12/2024.
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 18/12/2024.