Java sparrow

The Java sparrow, also known as the Java finch, Java rice sparrow, or Java rice bird, is a small bird indigenous to Java, Bali, and Bawean in Indonesia. It has become a popular pet and has been introduced to numerous other countries. Scientists occasionally place it and the Timor sparrow in a separate genus called Padda.

These birds measure about 15-17 cm in length and are easily identifiable by their grey upperparts, pink bellies, white cheeks, black heads, red eye-rings, pink feet, and stout red bills. Both males and females appear similar, while juveniles have brown upperparts and pale brown underparts.

Java sparrows are social creatures that primarily consume grains and seeds found in open grasslands and cultivated fields. They construct their nests in trees or buildings and can lay up to eight eggs at a time. These birds have been favored in Asian bird cages for centuries. However, owning one is illegal in California due to their potential threat to agriculture. In captivity, they come in various colors and can become quite attached to their human caregivers.

Java sparrows have established populations in several locations outside their native range, including the Indian subcontinent, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, and Christmas Island. Unfortunately, they face threats such as habitat loss, hunting, trapping, and the illegal pet trade. Consequently, the Java sparrow is now listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List and is protected under Appendix II of CITES.