FINCHforum

OK I finally got a nice large cage for my Java's yesturday

I have noticed this interesting behaviour the last few days...I'll try and describe it, hopefully someone can tell me what this is.

Ok they will sit beside each other on a perch (facing the same way) Then they make this rolling, twirling sound together, and raise their heads, in unision up and down and up and down, and keep making that sound...then "the male unbanded" will start to preen the "females" head. Ans "she" will keep low and let "him" do it.

Its this a mating behaviour? What does this mean?! Does this mean that they are definately M/F? lol

The whirling sound you are talking about is called the Java "purr". Its one of my favorite things about a Java.

You say their both raising their heads up and then go up and down repeatedly? Are they just raising their heads up and down in unison or does it look more like they are both hoping up and down on the perch together?

If they look like their hoping up and down on the perch, then they're both males. If its only head bobbing, I couldn't say. I've never seen head bobbing behavior in my Javas.

here is a java mating dance...looks like the little lady was not interested!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNvdHNtRfFg

poor guy!

flrancho wrote:The whirling sound you are talking about is called the Java "purr". Its one of my favorite things about a Java.

You say their both raising their heads up and then go up and down repeatedly? Are they just raising their heads up and down in unison or does it look more like they are both hoping up and down on the perch together?

If they look like their hoping up and down on the perch, then they're both males. If its only head bobbing, I couldn't say. I've never seen head bobbing behavior in my Javas.

I guess you can call it a purr. It doesnt have any highs or low pitches its just that whirling (purring I guess).

Yes they both sit beside eachother and make that sound while raising their heads up and down and up and down....There is NO hoping. Ive seen them today making that sound, and both of them have their mouths open like open beak <

I dont know what it is! Im wondering if they are same sex..Im not set on them being male and female. Until someone can tell me they have experienced this.

cindy wrote:here is a java mating dance...looks like the little lady was not interested!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNvdHNtRfFg

poor guy!

Cindy- Thanks for the video. Ive seen this before too, its pretty funny.
Unfortunately I havent seen either one of them do this. Just the whirling "purring"

Im starting to think I have 2 females....

I put a nest box in the cage to see if that would do anything.

You know they both remind me of laughing Hyena's...they open their beaks and raise their heads up and down..looks just like a hyena! lol
The sound they make sounds like a rattling sound..not a "purr" or any "singing" They will preen each other from time to time.
The only sounds I hear are peeps, and that rattling.
Ive seen the red banded on peering in the nest box..but thats about it.

My god this is so frustrating! Thats why I usually only go for birds I can visually sex lol

I don't think the rattling/whirring sound sounds much like a purr either, but apparently that's what its called. I'll have to see if I can find the website where it was, but they had a sound recording of all the sounds of a Java. They had the call, the male's song and the purr.

If I can find it again you might be able to identify the noise somewhat.

EDIT: Found the website. Is any of these the sound your Javas are making?

http://estrildid.com/java-finch/

This other website also has the sounds of a young male, adult male and a hen. Maybe this will help?

http://www.singing-wings-aviary.com/javas.htm

Thank you so much for finding these links for me!

I listened to the Java sounds on the first link you gave me.

The only sounds they make are the ones that sound like the one that says "Call" & "Purr" (cant believe its called that, because it doesnt sound like a purr to me lol)

I also clicked on the second link and listened to the young male, adult male, and female. The ONLY sound they make is that of a FEMALE.... I guess I do have 2 females then

Looks like I may have to trade one of them in for a male

I love thier sounds! Especially the song!!! I am deffinatly getting a pair for the aviary