Timor sparrow

The Timor sparrow (Padda fuscata), also known as Timor dusky sparrow, is a small, approximately 14 cm (5.5 in) long, plump dark brown songbird with a large silvery-blue bill, white cheek, pink feet and creamy-white belly. Both sexes are similar.

Timor sparrow
Conservation status
Near Threatened  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Estrildidae
Genus:	Padda
Species:	P. fuscata
Binomial name
Padda fuscata (Vieillot, 1807)
Synonyms
Lonchura fuscata Vieillot, 1807

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 the Timor archipelago. 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.^[1] It was formerly categorised as in the genus Lonchura, and some taxonomists still place this species and the Java sparrow in their that genus.