Padda oryzivora

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	AVES	Passeriformes	Estrildidae

Scientific Name:

Padda oryzivora

Species Authority:

(Linnaeus, 1758)

Common Name/s:

English	–	Java Sparrow
French	–	Padda De Java, Spermète De Java

Synonym/s:

Lonchura oryzivora

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Vulnerable A2bde+3bde+4bde; C1 ver 3.1

Year Assessed:

2008

Assessor/s

BirdLife International

Evaluator/s:

Butchart, S., Crosby, M. & Gilroy, J. (BirdLife International Red List Authority)

Justification:
The popularity of this finch as a cagebird has resulted in intense trapping activity, leading to rapid declines in population size.Unless stringent regulations are enforced, these declines are likely to continue, and as such it is considered Vulnerable.

History:

2004	–	Vulnerable
2000	–	Vulnerable
1994	–	Vulnerable
1988	–	Lower Risk/least concern

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Padda oryzivora is a native endemic of the islands of Java, Bali, and probably Madura, Indonesia, although it has been widely introduced, with feral populations now established in many parts of the world. It was formerly widespread and abundant in its native range, but numbers have crashed disastrously. It is now difficult to find; a recent survey looked at 64 former locations and located only 109 individuals at 17 sites¹. The majority of documented recent records derive from east Java and Bali. Feral populations (in Indonesia at least) have also apparently declined precipitously. Information from elsewhere is insufficient to estimate its status as a feral species, and all conservation efforts should focus on its original native range.
Countries:	Native: Indonesia Introduced: Christmas Island; Fiji; Philippines; United States Presence uncertain: Brunei Darussalam; Malaysia
Range Map:	(click map to view full version)

Population [top]

Population:	Population estimate derived from analysis of recent records and surveys detailed in BirdLife International (2001)
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	It is usually a lowland species, chiefly found below 500 m but occurring locally up to 1,500 m. It has been recorded in many habitats, including towns and villages (where it was formerly one of the most common species), cultivated land (particularly rice-growing areas), grassland, open woodland, tree savanna, beach forest and even mangroves. It is gregarious, especially outside the breeding season. Post-breeding flocks appear to make substantial short-distance movements in response to local food supplies.
Systems:	Terrestrial

Habitat and Ecology:

It is usually a lowland species, chiefly found below 500 m but occurring locally up to 1,500 m. It has been recorded in many habitats, including towns and villages (where it was formerly one of the most common species), cultivated land (particularly rice-growing areas), grassland, open woodland, tree savanna, beach forest and even mangroves. It is gregarious, especially outside the breeding season. Post-breeding flocks appear to make substantial short-distance movements in response to local food supplies.

Systems:

Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Trapping for the domestic and international cage-bird trade has probably been occurring for centuries, peaking in the 1960s and 1970s, and is the main cause of the decline. Its flocking tendency, particularly at roost sites, renders it especially susceptible to mass trapping. Ironically, even feral populations, originally introduced through trade, have subsequently been decimated for the same reason. Historically, it was regarded as a rice crop-pest, and consequently persecuted. Hunting for local consumption, and possibly increased use of pesticides and competition with the ecologically similar Tree Sparrow Passer montanus, are additional threats.

Major Threat(s):

Trapping for the domestic and international cage-bird trade has probably been occurring for centuries, peaking in the 1960s and 1970s, and is the main cause of the decline. Its flocking tendency, particularly at roost sites, renders it especially susceptible to mass trapping. Ironically, even feral populations, originally introduced through trade, have subsequently been decimated for the same reason. Historically, it was regarded as a rice crop-pest, and consequently persecuted. Hunting for local consumption, and possibly increased use of pesticides and competition with the ecologically similar Tree Sparrow Passer montanus, are additional threats.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Conservation actions underway: CITES Appendix II. An embargo was placed on the capture quota for Java and Bali in 1995. The species occurs in only very few protected areas, with recent records from only four, Cikepuh Wildlife Reserve, Baluran and Meru Betiri National Parks on Java and Bali Barat National Park on Bali. Conservation actions proposed: Investigate the relative importance of current threats (excessive trade, persecution, pesticides, competition). Promote strict enforcement of trade restrictions in wild birds, and devise means of meeting market demands from captive breeding. Develop and initiate programmes to protect remaining populations.

Conservation Actions:

Conservation actions underway:

CITES Appendix II. An embargo was placed on the capture quota for Java and Bali in 1995. The species occurs in only very few protected areas, with recent records from only four, Cikepuh Wildlife Reserve, Baluran and Meru Betiri National Parks on Java and Bali Barat National Park on Bali.

Conservation actions proposed:

Investigate the relative importance of current threats (excessive trade, persecution, pesticides, competition). Promote strict enforcement of trade restrictions in wild birds, and devise means of meeting market demands from captive breeding. Develop and initiate programmes to protect remaining populations.

Citation:	BirdLife International 2008. Padda oryzivora. In: IUCN 2009. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2009.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 21 November 2009.
Disclaimer:	To make use of this information, please check the <Terms of Use>.
Feedback:	If you see any errors or have any questions or suggestions on what is shown on this page, please fill in the feedback form so that we can correct or extend the information provided