| Java sparrow | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Estrildidae |
| Genus: | Lonchura |
| Species: | L. oryzivora |
| Binomial name | |
| Lonchura oryzivora | |
| Synonyms | |
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TheJava sparrow (Lonchura oryzivora; Japanese: 文鳥,bunchō), also known as theJava finch,Java rice sparrow orJava rice bird, is a smallpasserinebird.[3] Thisestrildid finch is a resident breeding bird inJava,Bali andBawean inIndonesia. It is a popularcage bird, and has been introduced into many other countries.
The Java sparrow wasformally described by the Swedish naturalistCarl Linnaeus in 1758 in thetenth edition of hisSystema Naturae under thebinomial nameLoxia oryzivora.[4] The specific epithet combinesLatinoryza meaning "rice" with-vorus meaning "eating".[5] Linnaeus based his description on the "Padda or Rice-bird" that had been described and illustrated in 1743 by the English naturalistGeorge Edwards in hisA Natural History of Uncommon Birds. Edwards believed that his specimens had come from China but mentions the common name "Java sparrow".[6] The species was reclassified to the genusLonchura in 2020.[7]
The Java sparrow is about 15 to 17 cm (5.9 to 6.7 in) in length from the beak to its tip of tail feathers. Although only about the size of ahouse sparrow, it may be the largest species in the estrildid family. The mean body mass is 24.5 g (0.86 oz), making it slightly heavier than its nearest known rival, theblack-bellied seedeater.[8] The adult is unmistakable, with its grey upperparts and breast, pink belly, white-cheeked black head, red eye-ring, pink feet and thick redbill.
Both sexes are similar. Immature birds have brown upperparts and pale brown underparts, and a plain head. Very young birds have a black beak with a pink base.
The call is achip, and the song is a rapid series of call noteschipchipchipchipchipchip.
Java sparrows produce distinct trill-calls in different behavioral contexts, according to a study by Furutani et al. (2018). These trill-calls, though acoustically similar, vary based on their repetition rate, which changes depending on the situation. In aggressive interactions, the sparrows emit faster trill-calls with higher sound pressure levels and entropy. In contrast, during affiliative behaviors, the trill-calls are slower and softer. This variation in trill-calls plays a crucial role in the birds' social communication, helping them convey different intentions based on the context.[9]
The Java sparrow is a very gregarious bird which feeds mainly on grain and other seeds. It frequents opengrassland and cultivation, and was formerly a pest inrice fields, hence itsscientific name. Thenest is constructed in a tree or building, and up to eighteggs are laid.
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The Java sparrow has been a popularcage bird in Asia for centuries, first in China'sMing Dynasty and then in Japan from the 17th century, frequently appearing in Japanese paintings and prints.Meiji-era writerNatsume Sōseki wrote an essay about his pet Java sparrow. In the late 1960s and early 1970s the Java sparrow was one of the most popular cage birds in the United States until its import was banned. Today it remains illegal to possess in California because of a perceived threat to agriculture, although rice-dependent Asian countries likeChina,Taiwan andJapan have not regulated the bird.
In Asia the Java sparrow is most often raised almost from birth by human breeders and owners, and they become very tame andattached to humans. As such, they can be normally kept in relatively small cages, but let out for indoor exercise without their attempting to escape. In captivity, a variety of colourations have been bred, including white, silver/opal, fawn/isabel, pastel, cream and agate (which currently is rare within Europe captive specimens) along with thepied Java sparrow (called thesakura buncho in Japan).
The Java sparrow was introduced in the Indian subcontinent,[10] but it failed to become a successful resident on the Indian mainland.[11] In the United States there are breeding populations on several of the Hawaiian Islands, especiallyOahu.
In the Caribbean, the Java sparrow was introduced toPuerto Rico where it is fairly common nearSan Juan. It has also been sighted inJamaica, but is not known to occur on any of the other islands.[12] It was also introduced toChristmas Island, off the coast ofWestern Australia.
The Java sparrow is considered by some countries to be an agricultural pest with respect to rice cultivation. An ongoing loss of natural habitat, hunting in some areas and trapping (as a pest) in others has led to much smaller numbers in the wild and sightings in its natural range have become increasingly uncommon. The Java sparrow is now evaluated asendangered on theIUCN Red List of Threatened Species with less than 10,000 individuals remaining. It is also listed on Appendix II ofCITES.[13] The species is also severely threatened by the illegal exotic pet trade as they are sought after for their distinctive song, according toTRAFFIC.[14]
