This Nutmeg Mannikin was photographed in the LA River. There is a section of the river that is currently being affected by the construction reinforcement of a bridge over the river and bulldozers ripped out many tall tree and scrubs so that the construction workers were provided with a clear path to the bridge. As a result, the removal of these tall items has made way for flowers and grasses to flourish and for me to get close to an area of the river previously inaccessible. I happily sat by myself (the construction has also reallocated the homeless people so I felt safe) and photographed the flock of Nutmeg Mannikins eating the grass seeds.

This bird is also referred to as the scaly-breasted munia, spotted munia, and spice finch. It is a resident from India to Taiwan, south to Sri Lanka, and through Southeast Asia to East Indies and Philippines. It was introduced and established in Hawaii and also introduced to Australia. Colonies of escaped caged birds are found in sections of California, and Texas east to Florida.

Nutmeg Mannikinscalybreasted muniaspotted muniaspice finch