The Invasive Link: Guinea Grass Boosts Munia numbers in Sri Lanka

In the rice fields and grasslands of Sri Lanka, a small bird with a scaly chest and a brown head has become a familiar sight.

- BY IFHAM NIZAM

The Scaly-breasted Munia, or Ploceus cucullatus—known locally as the Pulli Vee-Kurulla—has seen a significant population boom in recent years, raising concerns among both farmers and conservationists.

This unassuming little bird, with its distinctive dark streaks on a white belly, has long been a common resident in Sri Lanka’s wet and dry zones alike. Senior environmentalist Dr. Jagath Gunawardana’s recent surveys show that these birds have increased not just in numbers but also in their range—thanks to an unexpected ally: an invasive plant known as Guinea Grass (Panicum maximum).

“Guinea Grass was introduced as a fodder grass many decades ago,” Dr. Gunawardana explains. “Today, it has become one of the most aggressive invasive species in Sri Lanka, displacing native flora and drastically altering ecosystems.”