Towards a cultural history of the Bengalese Finch ( Lonchura domestica)

Abstract

The Bengalese finch, Lonchura domestica, first appeared in European zoos (London, Antwerp, The Hague) in the 1860s and it soon after became popular in the bird trade and among hobby aviculturalists. The species had been bred for many years in Japan before it was imported to Europe. Many theories about its background prevail in the handbooks. Although it was clear from the beginning that it was a purely domestic bird, its origin remained a mystery. Some authors maintain the view that it is a hybrid between various Lonchura species. However, new research has shown that the Bengalese finch is a domestic form of the White-rumped Munia, Lonchura striata (Linnaeus, 1766), but if it was actually domesticated in China or Japan cannot be determined without further investigation.