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Java Rice Bird & Strawberry Finch

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Gray Java Rice Bird
Size—about twice that of Canary.
This stately lird appears to be carved from marble, its feathers are so fine and so snugly laid on. He appears to have a fine fur coat instead of feathers.

The Java Rice Bird comes in two colors—the Gray Java and the White Java. Both are the same species and are exactly alike except for color. The male and the female Javas are alike except the head of the male is broader than that of the female. The Gray or as he is sometimes called, the Blue Java is the original wild bird and the White is a product of man, the Chinese being the originators many years ago.

The Gray Java is to be seen in flocks in the towns and cities on the Malay Peninsula. It builds its nest where population is thickest as do the English Sparrows in America. They feed in the rice fields and also eat many other kinds of native grains and seeds. Of late years they have also been transplanted to the Hawaiian Islands where they are now seen in large flocks.
The White variety is quite rare and is considered by Aviculturists more beautiful. Most of the White Javas have a few dark feathers interspersed in their plumage which greatly adds to their beauty. Both varieties when home raised breeding stock can be secured are quite easily bred. They require a covered nest box a little larger than the Finch nest box.

For seed they should have Parakeet Mixture and Unhulled Rice, or they will live nicely on different kinds of Millet and plain Canary seed and Unhulled Rice. They should also have Cuttle Bone, Health Grit and green food.

We breed both varieties here at Bird Haven on a large scale and offer only choicest specimens to our customers.
Gray Java Rice Bird.
Strawberry Finch
Gray Java Rice Birds,
per pair J.1-1•-/
Single Males, each $3.00
Single Females, each 3.00
White Java Rice Birds, per pair kpro
Single Males, each $4.75
Single Females, each 4.75

Strawberry Finch
Size—about 1/2 that of the Canary.
This tiny little mite is the smallest of all the Finches. The males when in full color resemble a large ripe strawberry, but as in most all other birds the female is more plain, being a reddish brown with red beak. They are natives of the Malay Peninsula.

Unfortunately these beautifully colored birds seem to have no regular time to moult and are apt to change color at most any time of the year. While moulting the male's plumage is exactly the same as the female's. However, their redeeming feature in this respect is that they are not out of color long until they again start putting on their brilliant plumage. We cannot guarantee these birds to be in full color when your order reaches us and will have to ship the birds as they are unless otherwise instructed.

Their diet is the same as the Zebra Finch and most of the other Finches, viz.: Small and large Millet and plain Canary. They are not very fond of greens but require some.

The Strawberry male is a beautiful singer with a sweet plaintive note that some believe rivals the canary's song and without doubt he is the finest singer of all the Finches.

They are rather difficult to breed but will, with patience, breed in a roomy cage or aviary, using a covered nest box as do most of the Finch family. These little Strawberries make a bright spot in any collection.
Strawberry Finches, $7.50 per pair
Single Males, each $3.75
Single Females, each 4.50