Chancy’s Girl WINS the FIGGY PUDDING for Identifying the Mystery Bird
She sends:
“I am assured that it is Scaly-breasted Munia, sometimes known as the “Cinnamon Mannikin”, a popular bird in pet stores and amongst bird fanciers…”
And indeed it is so.
It seems there’s an escapee colony taken up residence in South Florida, and either three stout companions got drunk on fermented berries and flew NORTH for the winter, or they’re as sick of the traffic in Tampa as anyone else and just want OUT.
But BRAVO YOU, CG!! And thanks loads!
Fun | tree hugging sister | 
December 31, 2012 9:33 am
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Man, I’m so glad to know the answer now. It bugs me when I can’t figure out a type of bird, and I’m so bad at it, too. It’s good to get a successful identification for a change.
Consider this a cut/paste of what Skyler said.
I do feel a bit mollified, though, that it’s not only not native to Florida, but not native to the Western Hemisphere. I mean, NO usable bird-identifying resource tries to include the whole WORLD in its index of species. Right? ::sigh::
If need be, I will gladly wait (and I assume Bingly will too) for my prize figgy pudding until next year.
It is a very cute little bird. Perhaps, like the English Sparrow, in time they will proliferate and then appear in the guides. My “Field Guide to the Birds'” was the 29th impression in 1962, the guide having been first copyrighted in 1934. Now I wonder if it is time to purchase a new one!
One bird feeder went out with the trash this morning. I am heading off to get a new one today.
So how did you figure it out?
@Chancy*girl Oh BRAVO!!! Thank you – that one was bugging me – I can usually get the Florida birds. That one totally stumped me.
P.S. They may have flown North (bless them). WE (here in SW FL) have birds that belong in VA (at south-most – and don’t ask me about four+states south and how they ended up here) due to our dearly beloved Sandy). Seriously. Our local bird rescues are being zapped by birds that belong WAY north of here. And we’re doing all we can. But when you are in Florida and the birds belong in VA…well.
Well, if you must know, I asked the folks at Cornell Lab of Ornithology. 😉 You may want to become a member. http://www.birds.cornell.edu/Page.aspx?pid=1478