Java sparrow, Java finch bird eating rice in the fields.

In this video, I introduce a Java sparrow into the aviary and talk about why this species is so unique. Despite the name, the Java sparrow isn’t actually a sparrow — it’s a finch, and one of the very few finches that can become extremely tame and attached to humans. Java sparrows are highly intelligent birds. They can recognise individual people, respond differently to familiar humans, and often associate specific people with food, safety, and routine. Because I’m in the aviary multiple times a