Padda

For other uses, see Padda (disambiguation).

Padda is a genus of estrildid finches restricted to islands in southern Indonesia.

Padda
Java sparrow (Padda oryzivora)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Estrildidae
Genus:	Padda Reichenbach, 1850
Type species
Loxia oryzivora Java sparrow Linnaeus, 1758
Species
See text.

These are small, plump, gregarious passerine birds. They frequent open grassland and cultivation and feed mainly on grain and other seeds, including rice.

Both species have white-cheeked black heads and thick bills. The sexes are similar, but immature birds have brown upperparts and paler brown underparts and cheeks. The call of both species is a chip, and the song is a raid series of call notes chipchipchipchipchipchip.

Taxonomy

The genus Padda was introduced in 1850 by the German naturalist Ludwig Reichenbach for the Java sparrow.^[1][2] The word "Padda" was used as an English name for the Java sparrow by George Edwards in 1743 and may come from the Malay word padi meaning "rice".^[3][4]

Species

The species are:^[5]

Genus Padda – Reichenbach, 1850 – two species

Common name	Scientific name and subspecies	Range	Size and ecology	IUCN status and estimated population
Java sparrow	Padda oryzivora (Linnaeus, 1758)	Java	Size: Habitat: Diet:	EN
Timor sparrow	Padda fuscata (Vieillot, 1807)	Timor	Size: Habitat: Diet:	NT

Java sparrow is a popular cagebird, and has been introduced in a large number of other countries. Both Padda species are threatened by trapping for the cage bird trade. Many taxonomists now place this genus in Lonchura with the mannikins and munias.