The photograph at the top of this page (by E.J.Peiker) is my favourite picture of a Java Sparrow. I have spent many hours on the Internet looking for pictures of this great bird but I haven't found one that captures the colour and beauty in full sunlight as this photo illustrates. For me, this is the perfect example of my favourite bird and has prompted me to specialise in breeding the normal / wild type Java Sparrow.

As it's name suggests, the Java Sparrow originated from Java, one of the largest Indonesian islands.

It was widespread across Sumatra, Bali and many of the Indonesian terrortories. It then became more prevalent in Malaysia, Borneo and the Philippines.

I refer to the Java Sparrow in past tense as it was formerly widespread and abundant in its native range, but numbers have crashed disastrously. It is now difficult to find in these areas and is now listed on CITES Appendix II.

What does this mean?

Well...CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) is an international agreement between governments. Its aim is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival. The species that CITES covers are listed on three appendices, according to the degree of protection they need.

Appendix I includes species threatened with extinction. Trade in specimens of these species is permitted only in exceptional circumstances.

Appendix II includes species not necessarily threatened with extinction, but in which trade must be controlled in order to avoid utilization incompatible with their survival.

Appendix III contains species that are protected in at least one country, which has asked other CITES Parties for assistance in controlling the trade. Changes to Appendix III follow a distinct procedure from changes to Appendices I and II, as each Party’s is entitled to make unilateral amendments to it.

(The information about CITES was taken from their web site, for more comprehensiveClick Here to visit their web site).

The decline of the wild Java Sparrow, in a strange twist of irony, is due to the domestic and international cage-bird trade. It has been a popular bird in aviculture for some fifty years or so and the trapping of the wild Java's has had a huge effect on the wild population.

The Java Sparrow is usually a lowland species, predominantly found below 500 m but occurring locally up to 1,500 m. It has been recorded in many habitats, including towns and villages, cultivated land, grassland, open woodland, tree savanna, beach forest and even mangroves.

It is gregarious by nature, especially outside the breeding season, and can often be seen with large flocks of its own kind, particularly in paddy fields where they are seen as vermin due to their ability to devour rice crops. In fact, their fondness of rice has influenced their alternative name, Rice Finch, Rice Munia....and even its latin names, Lonchura Oryzivora and Padda Oryzivora, link the bird with rice (Oryzivora is latin for rice).

An embargo was placed on the capture quota for Java and Bali in 1995. The species occurs in only very few protected areas, with recent records from only four, Cikepuh Wildlife Reserve, Baluran and Meru Betiri National Parks on Java and Bali Barat National Park on Bali.

To investigate the relative importance of current threats (excessive trade, persecution, pesticides, competition). Promote strict enforcement of trade restrictions in wild birds, and devise means of meeting market demands from captive breeding. Develop and initiate programmes to protect remaining populations.

Source: www.birdlife.org

Java Sparrows were introduced to Hawaii in 1867 and then again in the 1960's. They have flourished in numbers since the 1960's and are now widespread across the Hawaiian island range.

In contrast to their cousins back in their native Indonesia, the Hawaiian Java Sparrows are doing very well.

They can often be seen in large groups on large open grassy areas and at night form large communal roosts with common Mynahs and Zebra Doves.

The photo on the right typically captures the gregarious nature of the Java Sparrow, what a great sight this would be to see in your back garden.

I look at this photo and I can visualise the actual scene, as you can see the Java's are feeding on the ground and if you keep these wonderful birds you will know that feeding time can be quite comical to say the least. I'm almost certain that the Java's in this photo will be arguing amongst themselves as they stake there claim on whatever food is available.

Are you viewing this website from Hawaii? Do you see Java Sparrow's on a daily basis? I'd love to hear from you particularly if you have any interesting information about these wonderful birds...I'd even be happy to do a feature on this web site. Click Here to send me an email and tell me your experiences of living alongside the Java Sparrow.