Timor sparrow

Timor sparrow
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Estrildidae
Genus: Lonchura
Species: L. fuscata
Binomial name
Lonchura fuscata
(Vieillot, 1817)
Synonyms
  • Padda fuscata
    Vieillot, 1807

The Timor sparrow, (Lonchura fuscata) also known as Timor dusky sparrow is a small, approximately 14 cm long, plump dark brown songbird with a large silvery-blue bill, white cheek, pink feet and creamy-white belly. Both sexes are similar.

Its appearance resembles the closely related Java sparrow, but is smaller than the latter and has different coloured plumage. The Timor sparrow inhabits the grasslands and lowlands of West Timor, Semau and Rote Island of Indonesia, and East Timor. Its diet consists mainly of rice and seeds.

Due to ongoing habitat loss, limited range and illegal trapping for cage-bird trade, the Timor sparrow is evaluated as near threatened on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Some taxonomists place this species and the Java sparrow in their own genus, Padda.

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