Indian Silverbill

Euodice malabarica

Also known as: Warbling Silverbill, White-Throated Munia

About This Species

This small finch of dry scrub, grassland and cultivated edges across South Asia moves in tight, chattering flocks, feeding low down on grass seeds and often perching in a compact row on fences or low branches. Its pale, sandy plumage and stubby silver-grey bill are distinctive at close range, and the constant soft twittering of a flock is often the first sign of its presence. Dry season months, when seeding grasses are abundant, tend to bring the largest flocks into view.

Ethical Viewing Guidelines

This is a common, adaptable species that generally tolerates observation from a modest distance without abandoning a feeding area, but sudden movements or loud noise will still scatter a flock unnecessarily.
General principles of minimising disturbance apply, and specific protections vary between the countries across its South Asian range, so avoid assuming one nation's regulations cover the whole species.
Avoid disturbing nesting colonies in thorny scrub, which this species often uses communally.

LCAvesPasseriformesEstrildidae

Seasonal Activity

257,971 sightings · 2000–2026

Citizen science records via GBIF

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Classification

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Estrildidae

Photo

CC-BY-NC-SA-4.0

Occurrence data from GBIF.