Java sparrows are both vocalists and percussionists. Photo: Suzme/amanaimages/Corbis When Java sparrows make love, they do it to the beat of their own in-house avian techno. As at a rave, the birds’ ...

The Java sparrow is ready for the video recording. As I hold it carefully in my hand in order to transfer it to the recording cage, the little gray bird bites my finger with its thick red bill. Ouch!