Java Sparrow juveniles feeding on bamboo seeds

There is a stable population of Java Sparrows (Padda oryzivora) breeding in limestone outcrops on the outskirts of Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia. The birds originated from released captives and are now residents.

On 28th January 2012, Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS photographed some juveniles (above left) in a flock that were being fed by adults. The juveniles were calling constantly with high frequency and pitch when food was presented to them HERE. They were fed with bamboo seeds. Some were impatient waiting to be fed and proceeded to fead themselves, pecking at the seeds.

As bamboos as well as all other grasses produce one-seeded fruits, the birds naturally need to discard the outer husk to get at the seed proper. This behaviour is seen in the image below where an adult is feeding on the seeds.

Java Sparrows are popular cage birds, thus subjected to trappings for the local and international cage-bird trade. As they move in flocks, they are easily trapped in large numbers. Currently these sparrows are designated as “globally vulnerable.”