Source: Wikimedia Commons
Java Sparrow (Sakura / Pied)
BeginnerLonchura oryzivora
A pied variety of the Java sparrow in which white patches break up the wild grey plumage. It keeps the species' black head with white cheeks, red eye-ring and thick red bill, and is a long-standing favourite in Japan.
Difficulty
Beginner
Temperature
15〜30℃
Lifespan
7-10 years
Size
15-17cm
Humidity
40〜60%
Diet
Mixed millet-based seed, spray millet, greens, and a calcium grit such as oyster shell
About
The sakura buncho is a variety of the Java sparrow (Lonchura oryzivora), a species native to Java, Bali and Bawean in Indonesia. It has grey upperparts and breast, a pink belly, a black head with white cheeks, a bare red eye-ring, thick red bill and pink feet. Both sexes are similar; immature birds are brown above with a black bill that is pink at the base. The call is a chip and the song a rapid series of those notes. In Japan the species has been a cherished cage bird since the 17th century, appearing often in paintings and prints, and the Meiji writer Natsume Soseki wrote an essay about his pet Java sparrow. In Asia birds are usually raised by hand almost from birth, become very tame, and can be kept in relatively small cages and let out indoors without trying to escape. Captive colour varieties include white, silver or opal, fawn or isabel, pastel, cream and agate, along with this pied form, called sakura buncho in Japan.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Lifespan of the Java Sparrow (Sakura / Pied)
The Java Sparrow (Sakura / Pied) lives 7-10 years.
Size of the Java Sparrow (Sakura / Pied)
The Java Sparrow (Sakura / Pied) grows to 15-17cm.
The wild bird is 15 to 17 cm long with a mean body weight of 24.5 g, and may be the largest species in the estrildid family.
Basic Info
Origin
The wild species is native to Java, Bali and Bawean in Indonesia; the variety was established in captivity in Asia, including Japan
Lifespan
7-10 years
Care Specifications
PeacefulPairBreeding: Easy
References & Sources
Edited & verified by: BreederDirect editorial team
The taxonomic, regulatory, and husbandry data on this page are compiled and verified against the authoritative primary sources below.
Taxonomy & Authority
Accepted name: Lonchura oryzivora (Linnaeus, 1758)
Synonyms: Padda oryzivora, Loxia oryzivora
Authority databases: GBIF
Nomenclature follows global taxonomic authority databases.
Regulations & Conservation Status
CITES Appendix IIIUCN EN · Endangered
Lonchura oryzivora (Padda oryzivora). The sakura buncho is taxonomically part of this species and is therefore covered by CITES Appendix II. International trade in an Appendix II species requires an export permit from the exporting state; it is not among the Appendix I derived species that require registration under Japanese law. The wild population is put at under ten thousand birds through habitat loss, hunting and trapping as a pest, and the IUCN assesses the species as Endangered, with the illegal pet trade adding further pressure.
Sources: CITES Appendices (Appendix II species) / IUCN Red List
Regulations may change. Always verify the latest information with the relevant authorities.
Java Sparrow (Sakura / Pied) Listings
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