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 | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Clade: | Dinosauria |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Estrildidae |
| Genus: | Padda |
| Species: | P. fuscata |
| Binomial name | |
| Padda fuscata (Vieillot, 1807) | |
| Synonyms | |
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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.
References
- BirdLife International (2016). "Padda fuscata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22728596A94991217. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22728596A94991217.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.