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Bronze mannikins are small, between eight and thirteen grams in mass, gregarious birds that are easily identified and conspicuous.

They are found over large areas of sub-Saharan Africa but in South Africa their distribution is limited to warm, moist areas of the east coast of KwaZulu-Natal spreading inland to the eastern Transvaal. Their distribution can overlap with that of Redbacked and Pied Mannikins where the different species can compete for food. It is primarily a bird of edge habitats, preferring moist, wooded habitats and it is often found associated with water. Bronze Mannikins are found in suburban areas, frequenting and nesting in areas that replicate their preferred habitat.

Breeding occurs throughout the year, but peak activity is earliest (November – January) in the south, and becomes progressively later and less synchronized to the north. They build their nests in suburban gardens where their breeding activity, nestling and fledgling vocalizations make them quite conspicuous.

Bronze Mannikins can be aged by feather coloration; juveniles have brown plumage while adults have black head feathers and white breast feathers. Thermoregulation during the night in winter is energetically expensive for Bronze Mannikins as they are small, endothermic organisms with high metabolic rates.

Bronze Mannikins form flocks of up to 30 birds at the end of the breeding season and huddle in communal nests during winter. I studied the thermoregulatory benefits associated with flock formation during winter and found that Bronze Mannikins huddle in flocks when cold-stressed. Although mannikins do not naturally form linear huddles, for ease of observation we observed linear huddles and found that birds in captive flocks established linear dominance hierarchies and dominant individuals obtained the central location within the huddle. The central position in the huddle may be beneficial in cold environments through reduced energy expenditure.

Bronze Mannikins in Captivity

Bronze mannikins are easy to keep in captivity. They adjust to aviary-life quickly and if fed a diet of mixed bird seed and Avi-Plus food supplement was provided daily. Water should always be available.

Copyright 2002 Kathleen Calf