Java Sparrow

Padda oryzivora

The Java sparrow (Padda oryzivora), also called the Java finch or ricebird, is a chunky estrildid finch native to Java, Bali, and nearby Indonesian islands. The classic wild form has a gray body, black head, white cheek patches, a heavy pink bill, and pink legs. Its close association with rice fields gave the species its common names and also led to persecution as an agricultural pest. Wild populations are now much reduced in parts of the native range, largely because of trapping and habitat pressure.

Aviculturists keep Java sparrows as active, social cage and aviary birds, with established captive lines in white, pied, fawn, and other mutations. They need more space and sturdier perches than very small finches, and pairs can become assertive around nests in cramped mixed flights. A seed base is usually supplemented with greens, sprouted seed, mineral sources, and egg food during breeding. Laws vary because escaped birds can establish feral populations in warm regions, so buyers should confirm that captive-bred Java sparrows are legal to keep where they live.