Common Silver Hairgrass vs pardal-de-java

Aira caryophyllea compared with Lonchura oryzivora

Key Differences

Common Silver Hairgrass is Endangered while pardal-de-java is Vulnerable.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Common Silver Hairgrass	pardal-de-java
Kingdom	Plantae (plantas)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)	Chordata (cordados)
Class	Liliopsida (Monocots)	Aves (ave)
Order	Poales (Grasses)	Passeriformes (Songbirds)
Family	Poaceae (Grass Family)	Estrildidae
Genus	Aira	Lonchura
Species	Aira caryophyllea	Lonchura oryzivora

Conservation Status

Common Silver Hairgrass

EN — Endangered

pardal-de-java

VU — Vulnerable

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Common Silver Hairgrass	pardal-de-java
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Common Silver Hairgrass

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, tropical and subtropical grasslands and savannas, and flooded grasslands and savannas, among 11 distinct biome types. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Widely distributed across Africa (Cameroon), Asia (Japan, South Korea), Europe (6 countries), North America (4 countries), Oceania and the Pacific (Australia), and South America (4 countries). Currently classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

pardal-de-java

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, tropical and subtropical grasslands and savannas, and flooded grasslands and savannas, among 6 distinct biome types spanning the Afrotropic and Indomalayan realms. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Widely distributed across Africa (Tanzania), Asia (Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam), Europe (5 countries), North America (United States), Oceania and the Pacific (Australia), and South America (Colombia, Venezuela). Currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Common Silver Hairgrass

<em>Aira caryophyllea</em>, commonly known as Common Silver Hairgrass, is a slender annual grass belonging to the family Poaceae within the order Poales. This delicate grass is currently classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, reflecting significant conservation concern despite its historically broad distribution. It is typically found across a remarkable diversity of biome types, including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, grasslands, savannas, and flooded habitats, demonstrating notable ecological versatility. Its geographic range spans multiple continents, with documented populations in Africa (Cameroon), Asia (Japan, South Korea), Europe, North America, Australia, and South America. As an annual grass, it completes its life cycle within a single growing season, reproducing via wind-dispersed seeds. The inflorescence typically bears silvery, shimmering spikelets that give the species its common name. Biological traits such as average lifespan, body dimensions, and dietary specifics follow typical patterns for annual grasses — drawing nutrients from soil through root absorption rather than consuming other organisms. The endangered status suggests populations may be declining due to habitat loss, land-use change, or invasive species pressure across parts of its range.

pardal-de-java

Um dos pássaros de gaiola mais populares no Leste Asiático, os pardais-de-java são tentilhões vistosos com plumagem cinza, cabeça preta marcante, manchas brancas características nas bochechas e bico vermelho brilhante. Nativos de Java e Bali, na Indonésia, foram introduzidos em muitas partes da Ásia, África e Américas. Habitam pastagens abertas, arrozais e terras agrícolas, frequentemente tornando-se pragas para as lavouras de arroz. Classificados como Vulneráveis em sua área de distribuição nativa devido à intensa pressão de captura para o comércio de pássaros em gaiola.