FINCHforum

My male Yellow-faced Star finch is exhibiting an odd behavior. When I first heard this sound it sounded like rapid sneezing in several bursts. I located the sound and realized it was the male Star. Watched him and he does it again. Not sneezing but almost coughing maybe. It's a really rapid cha-cha-cha- sound. Coming from outside I'd think it was a wild bird calling an alarm. But from him I don't think so. He's caged with a younger male Red-faced Star who is not exhibiting the behavior at all. Of course I panicked and thought ASM, but no else is doing this. Not hearing clicking from anyone, or other sneezing/coughing. No gasping as if anyone is short of air. They are panting a bit because it's hot but that's different. The behavior comes and goes and it might be days before I hear him do it again. He stands up tall while he's doing this and slightly raises/fluffs up his head and neck/throat feathers. When I watch him it almost looks like he's choking or trying to clear his throat.

What it really reminds me of is when you feed hungry chickens a crumble diet and they eat too eagerly. The dry food gets caught in their throat and they'll open their mouths and do the weird neck thing and cough rapidly to dislodge it. But I never see him doing this while he's eating...

Does anyone have any ideas what it could be? Should I be worried about it and Scatt about 100 plus birds to be on the safe side? BTW anyone who answers yes to that question can come over and help...lol

LOL I wish I lived close enough to come help I'd so do it just for the experience!!!!

I surely hope it's not ASM,,,,,,

Pshh, me too. All these birds came from clean breeders (I've been in their birdrooms) or they are mods on here. I highly doubt it's ASM. If it is I have no idea how they could have gotten it. And none of my Gouldians (the ASM problem children or so I hear) are showing any symptoms. The Star just does his weird head extension, open-beaked, cha-ing. I'm trying to remember if he looks out of breath when he does it and I can't remember. The sound doesn't panic me like it did at first since his cagemate isn't doing it. So unless he's really doing it a lot, I don't usually stoop over to watch him. He's one cage up from the floor in the rack and they are both fairly nervous when I'm around their cage.

Wonder if he's got something stuck and can't get it down

I've thought that too. It's not constant and I asked him politely to open and say "Ah". He just glared at me and hid behind the other male. And it's been going on for a while. I hope it's not a growth or anything. But I wouldn't know unless I took him in. There aren't any Avian Vets close (like two-ish hours away) and they certainly don't specialize in the little ones.

I'd give Helen a call tomorrow and see if she's ever seen this behavior. I don't remember seeing it when I had Stars, but then my memory is so bad these days, it is almost worthless. You can do a physical check for ASM by following this method posted by debbie276:

debbie276 wrote: Diagnosis of ASM can be made by wetting the feathers on the neck with alcohol and lighting the trachea with a bright penlight. It is best performed in a darkened room and with normal vision, the mites can be seen as dark, pinhead size, moving spots in the trachea.

I'll do that. Thanks Sally. ;)

Both of my Male Stars are from Helen too . They have TONS of wacky behaviors and adorable sounds, but i haven't seen or heard either do what you are describing. I hope your guy is OK.