| Timor sparrow | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Estrildidae |
| Genus: | Lonchura |
| Species: | L. fuscata |
| Binomial name | |
| Lonchura fuscata (Vieillot, 1817) | |
| Synonyms | |
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The Timor sparrow, (Lonchura fuscata) also known as Timor dusky sparrow is a small, approximately 14 cm long, plump dark brown songbird with a large silvery-blue bill, white cheek, pink feet and creamy-white belly. Both sexes are similar.
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. Some taxonomists place this species and the Java sparrow in their own genus, Padda.
References
- BirdLife International (2005). "Padda fuscata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2005. Retrieved 30 October 2006. Database entry includes a brief justification of why this species is near threatened.