Padda

This article is about the bird genus. For the village in India, see Padda, Kapurthala.

Padda

Java sparrow (Padda oryzivora)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Estrildidae
Genus:	Padda
Species
See text.

Padda is a genus of estrildid finches restricted to islands in southern Indonesia.

These are small, plump, gregarious passerine birds. They frequent open grassland and cultivation and feed mainly on grain and other seeds, including rice.

Both species have white-cheeked black heads and thick bills. The sexes are similar, but immature birds have brown upperparts and paler brown underparts and cheeks.

The call of both species is a chip, and the song is a raid series of call notes chipchipchipchipchipchip.

The species are

Java sparrow, or Java finch Padda oryzivora
Timor dusky sparrow, Padda fuscata

Java sparrow is a popular cagebird, and has been introduced in a large number of other countries. Both Padda species are threatened by trapping for the cage bird trade. Many taxonomists now place this genus in Lonchura with the mannikins and munias.

References

Finches and Sparrows by Clement, Harris and Davis, ISBN 0-7136-8017-2

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