Java Sparrow

Basic Description

The Java Sparrow is a paradox—an endangered species in its native Indonesian range due to its popularity as a cage bird, but a common sight in the Hawaiian Islands, Philippines, and other areas where it has been introduced. Their massive reddish bills make these small songbirds immediately distinctive. Adults are a showy mix of gray, black, white, and mauve. Young birds are more muted in their colors. This social species often forages in large flocks, using its hefty bill to feed on seeds and cultivated grains, especially rice.