# Bronze Mannikin

Scientific name: Spermestes cucullata

Bird group: [finch](https://birdsofpuertorico.com/family/finch)

Canonical source: https://birdsofpuertorico.com/bird/252/Bronze-Mannikin

## Identification

The bronze mannikin or bronze munia (Spermestes cucullata) is a small passerine (i.e. perching) bird of the Afrotropics. This very social estrildid finch is an uncommon to locally abundant bird in much of Africa south of the Sahara Desert, where it is resident, nomadic or irruptive in mesic savanna or forest margin habitats. It has an estimated global extent of occurrence of 8,100,000 km2. It is the smallest and most widespread of four munia species on the African mainland, the other being black-and-white, red-backed and magpie mannikin. It co-occurs with the Madagascar mannikin on the Comoro Islands, and was introduced to Puerto Rico. Especially in the West Africa, it is considered a pest in grain and rice fields. It is locally trapped for the pet bird trade.
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## Distribution and habitat

The Bronze Mannikin is a species widespread in Africa 
(Oberle 2018) and a common 
resident in Puerto Rico, where 
it was likely introduced during 
the early colonial era (Raffaele 
and others 1998). In Puerto Rico, 
this species commonly occurs 
in lowland gardens, weedy lots 
(Oberle 2018), fields, lawns, and 
almost all habitats where grass 
seeds are available (Raffaele and 
others 1998). It has also been 
reported for Culebra (Ventosa-
Febles and others 2005) and 
Vieques islands (Gemmill 2015). 
It is generally seen at elevations lower than 300 m (Oberle 2018), 
but it has been seen above 
450 m (Biaggi 1997). The atlas 
fieldwork yielded a total of 331 
records within 213 hexagons 
or 44 percent of the 479 total 
hexagons (see map). Of the 213 
hexagons where this species 
was found, breeding met the 
atlas definition of confirmed in 
25 percent (54) of the hexagons, 
probable in 39 percent (84), and 
possible in 35 percent (74), while 
the species was observed in an 
additional hexagon (<1 percent) 
but without evidence of breeding 
(see map). Bronze Mannikin distribution. The map shows the highest breeding code by hexagon and overlaying the ecological life zones in 
Puerto Rico. Note: percentages may not total 100 due to rounding.      243Bronze Mannikin/Diablito

## Breeding

Previously published reports indicate that Bronze Mannikin 
breeding extends from March 
to October (Raffaele and others 
1998). The nests are round-
shaped structures made of hay 
and dried grass (Biaggi 1997). 
Atlas results show that this 
species breeds throughout the 
year with the most breeding 
activity during May and June. 
(see chart). Breeding peaks in 
June, and the breeding activity 
mostly takes place within the 
subtropical moist forest life zone. Results show that this species 
mostly breeds in lowlands within 
the subtropical moist forest 
life zone (74 percent of the 
hexagons) (see table). However, 
results also indicate that this 
species breeds in the subtropical 
dry (17 percent of the hexagons) 
and subtropical wet forest 
(9 percent of the hexagons) 
life zones as well (see table 
and map).

## Conservation

The global population size for the Bronze Mannikin has not 
been quantified or assessed, but the species is described 
as common and widespread 
(Clement 1999). This species 
is currently listed as a species 
of least concern by the IUCN 
(BirdLife International 2016). 
Locally, this species is not 
listed in any of the threatened 
categories of PRDNER and 
USFWS. In Puerto Rico, the 
Bronze Mannikin has a protected 
habitat in land of 10 percent or 
512 km2 of the total area covered by the hexagons where evidence 
of breeding was found for this 
species (5069 km2).

Photo: https://birdsofpuertorico.com/static/images/webp/in_252_Im0.png.webp

Distribution map: https://birdsofpuertorico.com/static/images/webp/in_252_Im1.png.webp

Source note: Text is reproduced from this site's published record. Historical conservation statements and taxonomy have not been independently revalidated. See https://birdsofpuertorico.com/about for source credits and limitations.