Sexing the Java Sparrow can be difficult, however there are a few indications that will help in identifying the sex of your birds.
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Here are a few basic points that will hopefully help you discover the sex of your birds.

By Song

The most obvious method of identifying a cock bird is from his song. Although the song of each cock bird is similar, you will get to know your male birds by their individual song. Most start off their song with a few ”clucks” that then goes into their own unique song.
 

Hen

Cock

By Beak

Comparing the two photos above, you will notice that the beak of the cock bird (right) appears to be a slightly darker colour compared to the hen.

Also note, the upper mandible of the cock bird seems more bulbous and swollen. It also is positioned back further towards the top of the head.

The photo on the right shows the cock and hen side by side showing the underside of their beaks.

The cock's beak (right) spreads wider into the neck than the hens.
The overall width if the hen's beak is visibly smaller than that of the cock.

By Eye Ring

You will also notice in the photos above that the eye ring of the cock bird appears more swollen and is a deeper shade of red. The eye ring usually swells when the cock bird is in breeding condition.

I have noticed in some hens that the eye ring also appears to vary in  colour (i.e some darker than others) but it never swells like the eye ring of the cock  bird.
 

By Behaviour

As mentioned above, when a cock bird is coming into condition he will be singing almost constantly, he will appear lively bouncing from perch to perch and appearing generally more active in the cage or flight.

Hens will also appear more active but obviously do not sing.

If you use paper on the cage floor you will see hens ripping it up, which can also indicate that the bird is coming into condition.

I also tend to find that if you have unsexed birds in the same cage or flight, the same sexes tend to bicker. If I see two birds squabbling I have found, nine times out of ten, that they are the same sex. This is a good indication but is not an accurate method.
 

Sexing Java Mutations

All of the above mentioned methods apply to the various mutations of Java Sparrow but there can be, with certain colours, more obvious signs as to the sex of a bird.

As I only keep three Java colours, Normal, Fawn and Silver, I have detailed below additional methods to identify the sex of these mutations only.

Fawns

One of the biggest clues to the bird’s sex is the colour of the bird’s head.

Generally, the cock bird will have a darker head than the hen.

This tell tale sign coupled with all of the previous method can almost guarantee the sex of your fawn Java’s.

Having said that, (I know very little on genetics and I won't pretend that I do) I have known a few fawn cocks with lighter heads than hens and vice versa…there are exceptions to every rule!!!

The picture below shows the darker head of the cock bird compared to the lighter head of the hen.
 

Fawn Hen

Fawn Cock

Notice the less swollen eye ring.
 

Notice the more bulbous beak and bigger eye ring.

Now take a look at the heads from above and side by side.

See how much darker the head is of the cock compared to the hen.

Like I mentioned above, the head colours do vary in shade of colour and you will get some cocks and hens with almost identical coloured heads.

But generally cocks do have darker heads than hens.

Silvers

Using the methods I have talked about above and applying the principal of head colour, the silver mutation can be sexed fairly accurately.
Take a look at the photos below.
 

Silver Hen

Silver Cock

Again, observing the head colour, see the photo on the left showing a silver cock and hen side by side.

(This photo shows a good example of the different shades in the head colour but not all Silvers are this easy).

I hope you find this information helpful in sexing your birds, but if you have any other methods, not mentioned above, then please contact me, click here and drop me a line with your sexing techniques.

All of the above written methods are just general pointers, you will come across some birds that show all the visual signs of being a hen….and then you will hear it sing and prove himself to be a cock!!!! You do hear the odd story of a single hen that sings, but I have never personally come across one.

If you follow these methods and spend time with your birds every day, you will more or less be 100% accurate in identifying the sex of your birds.

One other method to mention!!!!

Needle and Thread????

Many bird keepers swear by the method of using a needle and thread held over the belly of an unsexed bird.

The idea is to keep your hand as still as possible and then observe the behaviour of the needle.

If the needle swings back and forth….it’s a cock!!

If the needle swings in a circle………..it’s a hen!!

I had a discussion on this method with a Java pal when I visited his aviaries to pick up some birds.

He suggested that “it’s all in the mind” and your power of thought can persuade the needle and thread to behave however you want.

He demonstrated this by getting me to hold the needle over the belly of a known cock bird.

He then told me to think “hen hen hen” and strangely enough the needle began to circle as if it was a hen.

You really have to concentrate on something completely different (e.g. listening to someone talking on the radio) to take your mind of the bird before the needle moves independently of your thought…even then this doesn’t guarantee accurate sexing.

A company in Scotland sell a sex indicator that is principally the same as a needle and thread called “3R”.

This is basically a lump of metal attached to a piece of cotton….for  £10!!!

Having said all this, I do use a needle and thread on unsexed birds just to see what percentage turn out to be accurate.

The jury’s out!!!!

Tell me what you think on this method, do you think it works???? Or is it a waste of time??? Click here and let me know you thoughts.