![]() ![]() The bulk exportations of this bird during the late 19th and early 20th centuries did nothing but slowly deplete the wild numbers of this finch. This bird is actually endangered in its native habitat of Northern Australia but there are several hundred thousand living and breeding in captivity. The name he chose for it was “Lady Gouldian Finch”, after his wife Elizabeth. They get their name from the British ornithologist John Gould, who was the first to describe the bird to western science back in 1844. This has earned it the nickname “Rainbow Finch”. The first thing you notice on this species (Erythrura gouldiae) is its bright, multi colored plumage. Gouldian Finch - endangered in the wild, but common in captivity They were first kept by the Ming Dynasty in China during the 14th century, and became very popular in Japan during the 17th century. It is this species, rather than the Zebra Finch, that is the true grandfather of all pet finches in Asia. They will happily nest in trees and buildings in the wild, and don’t seem to have a problem with breeding and nesting in captivity. As of late this species has become more and more of a popular cage bird, and they favor larger seeds such as oats, white millet and sprouting rice, as opposed to the much smaller seeds preferred by other finch species. The Java Sparrow is the true giant of the Finch scene, their large beak only adding to the general look of bulkiness. It is also illegal to import specimens into the USA. ![]() This bird has never managed to shake its rice eating reputation, and still to this day it is illegal to own a Java finch in California, just in case feral populations descend on to the local rice fields. There are also millions of birds in captivity. ![]() Outside of Indonesia, introduced populations have managed to thrive in Hawaii. Numbers in the wild have been massively reduced, irate rice farmers are somewhat to blame here, and the species is officially endangered in its natural habitat. This feat has also earned them the alternative names of “Java rice sparrow” and “Java rice finch”. The bird's latin tag, oryzivora, means “rice-eater”, they have made a bad name for themselves by feeding on rice fields together in large flocks. They can be found on other Indonesian Islands too, however. The Java Finch, as the name suggests, is native to the island of Java, Indonesia. Java Sparrow - first pet bird to conquer Asia ![]()
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