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Java Sparrow

Padda oryzivoraOrder: PASSERIFORMESFamily: Estrilid Finches (Estrildidae)

Java Sparrow Portrait
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General

Java Sparrow: Largest member of the Estrildid family. Upperparts and breast are gray, belly is brown-gray to pink and undertail coverts are white. Head is black with large white cheek patch, narrow red eyering, and thick, cone-shaped pink bill. Tail is black. Sexes are similar. Juveniles have gray-buff upperparts and white to pale puff underparts. Dark gray crown, lighter gray cheeks and throat. Bill is black-brown.

Range and Habitat

Java Sparrow: Found year round on Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Maui and Hawaii, common in urban areas. Prefers the grassy areas of parks and fields.

Voice Text

"t'lik", "ch'lik", "pik-pik-pik", "GRRRRRRRR!"

Interesting Facts

  • A group of finches has many collective nouns, including a "charm", "company", and "trembling" of finches.
  • The Java Sparrow is also known as Java Finch, Java Rice Bird, and Paddy Bird.
  • It was previously classified with other estrildid finches in the old world family of sparrows, Passeridae. In 2008 the estrildid finches were given their own family, Estrildidae.
  • It is a popular cage bird, and has been introduced in many countries. It is considered a serious agricultural pest of rice.


Author

Crystal Adams

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Range Map for Java Sparrow
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Bird Call Credits: The Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Martyn Stewart, http://www.naturesound.org, Redmond, Washington USA. The reuse or copying of bird calls in this database is strictly forbidden.
Family
Species Padda oryzivora
Length5 - 6 Inches
Wingspan Inches

Java Sparrow

Java Sparrow: Largest member of the Estrildid family. Gray upperparts and breast, belly is brown-gray to pink, undertail coverts are white. Head is black with large white cheek patch, narrow red eyering, thick, cone-shaped pink bill. Black tail, pink legs, feet. Fast flight on rapidly beating wings.

● Song: "t'lik", "ch'lik", "pik-pik-pik", "GRRRRRRRR!"

● Foraging & Feeding: Java Sparrow: Forages on the ground for seeds and insects and is easily attracted to backyard feeders which it tends to overwhelm. Often seen in large flocks in rice fields.

● Breeding & nesting: Java Sparrow: Three to eight white eggs are laid in a nest built under the eaves of buildings or in tree cavities. Both sexes incubate 13 to 15 days. Chicks fledge between 21 to 30 days after hatching. May breed year round.

● Similar species: Java Sparrow: Not likely to be confused with any other species.

Flight Pattern

Alternates several rapid wing beats with wings pulled to sides.
Java Sparrow Body Illustration
● Range & Habitat: Java Sparrow: Found year round on Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Maui and Hawaii, common in urban areas. Prefers the grassy areas of parks and fields.
BreedingMonogamous
PopulationExpanding
MigrationNonmigratory
Weight0.88 Ounces