Hunstein's mannikin
# Hunstein's mannikin

Hunstein's mannikin or mottled munia (Lonchura hunsteini) is a species of estrildid finch breeding in New Ireland and New Hannover. This species is also introduced to Pohnpei. It has an estimated global extent of occurrence of 20,000 to 50,000 $km^2.$ It is found in subtropical/ tropical (lowland) dry grassland habitat. The status of the species is evaluated as Least Concern. The males are similarly colored to the extinct Hawaiian ʻUla ʻAi Hāwane, a Hawaiian honeycreeper.

There are two subspecies:

* L. h. hunsteini (Finsch, 1886) – New Ireland (Bismarck Archipelago)
* L. h. nigerrima (Rothschild & Hartert, 1899) – New Hanover (Bismarck Archipelago)

The race L. h. nigerrima, the New Hanover mannikin, has sometimes been treated as a separate species.

