Embedded Files
If you've landed on this page, it's probably either because 1) we saw a nest in your yard and left you a brochure, or 2) you think you have a nest in your yard and found us through our outreach efforts. If you'd like to help us collect data, read on!
A male Pin-tailed Whydah at Laguna Niguel Regional Park.
About the project
About the project
What are these birds?
Scaly-breasted Munias and Pin-tailed Whydahs are common bird species in the pet trade. Munias are native to Asia, whereas whydahs are native to Africa. We think a few birds from each species escaped from the pet trade and established populations in Southern California, as well as many other locations in the Americas.
What's interesting about these birds?
Pin-tailed Whydahs are brood parasites, which means that instead of the mother whydah taking care of her own offspring, she lays her eggs in the nest of another bird species and lets the other bird raise her young. In Africa, the whydah mostly lays her eggs in the nest of a finch species called the Common Waxbill. However, in Southern California, the whydah lays her eggs in the nest of the Asian-origin Scaly-breasted Munia! The native ranges of the munia and whydah do not overlap. Thus, the munia is a new and naive host.
A Scaly-breasted Munia with nesting material on its way to build a nest.
Pin-tailed Whydah nestlings inside a munia nest.
Why are you studying them?
There are a lot of things we don't know yet about the whydah and munia population. Why did the whydahs start laying eggs in the munia host? Have munias learned to recognize female whydahs and their chicks? Finally, does the presence of parasite chicks harm the munia's nestlings? These questions could help us to understand the risk that the introduced whydah poses to native California birds, and if it could start laying its eggs in different host species.
What do the nests look like?
They look like a domed structure made of grass blades, pine needles, and fluffy material. Examples on the right.
Fullerton Arboretum, 2024.
Laguna Niguel Regional Park, 2024
Cox Regional Sports Park, 2024
How can I get involved?
Do you have a munia nest breeding in your backyard that scientists could investigate? Please reach out to ey3846@princeton.edu to get started, or fill out the intake form below. We usually only collect data from nests that are a maximum of 18 feet high located in Orange County, CA. We appreciate you!
sometimes emails bounce from my Princeton email due to the spam filters, try chiccadee100@gmail.com as a backup if I don't respond or just use the intake form
Permit information: We follow all federal and state guidelines to comply with all U.S. wildlife laws, and instuitional guidelines for animal welfare.
Federal Bird Banding Permit #24293
California Scientific Collecting Permit: S-241070003-24316-001-02
IACUC protocol (animal welfare) #3249
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