FINCHforum

I had a pair of blue breasted, male and female, one died, I believe it was the female.

I soon bought another, the only I could find at a small bird fair, didnt want the other to be without a mate, it was a blue capped, so not the exact same species.

Question 1: To sex them, blue breasted females have blue in the exact same areas, just a lot lighter shade, right?

Question 2: same as #1 but for blue capped.

I ask this since I just want to verify I now have two males. They are both strongly and brightly blue in their blue areas

Why am I suddenly concerned or interested? . . .

Question 3: Will the cordons still do a mating dance even though they gotta know the other is a male? Once in awhile one of the cordons will do the weirdest "dance" where he cocks his head back over and over with a little hop inbetween. I just found out today while surfing videos that what he is doing is the cordon mating dance! So, maybe my cordons are gay? (not that there's anything wrong with that!) or am I possibly wrong in thinking both of em are males?

Maybe I gotta get two females at the annual midwest expo in April?

not sure what to think as of an hour ago!

any thoughts would be appreciated.

Hi! I have lots of Cordon's. Yes -- the Cordon's will dance to another male if a female isn't available and sometimes even if a female is available. No -- they are not really "gay" in that sense of the word. They are instinctively aware of sex but the drive to breed is very strong and their mating dance is something males (and females) like to exhibit a lot -- When I separate my CB's for their resting period the males will dance and sing and chase each other just as they do the females. But it is more like a practice for the real thing (and maybe a frustration that there are no REAL females to dance for).

A male BC CB will have a whole blue hood -- a female's blue will only go to the top of her head (at most) and not continue on down the back of her neck as does a male's. But you are right with the Blue Breasted CB's from what I understand (I don't have any of those but that is what I've read).

I hope this helps!

I am like Anna, I have lots of Blue-capped and some Red-cheeked, but no Blue-breasted. This link has a lot of pictures of BCCBs and RCCBs, but only one photo of a male BBCB.
http://www.finchinfo.com/birds/finches/ ... axbill.php
You will find that BCCB and RCCB hens aren't always easy to tell apart, so study photos to become familiar with the differences. BCCB hens should have a bright fuschia-colored beak, RCCB hens will have a more pointy beak with a dark tip. BCCB hens often have a plumper, more rounded shape, RCCB hens tend to be more slender. BCCB hens will have some blue on top of their heads, but way less than a male. RCCB hens will have only brown on top of their heads. I'm only pointing out the differences between BCCB and RCCB hens, as sometimes RCCB hens are sold as BCCB.

If you decide to get mates for these CBs, please try to get pure mates for them. It is so important to keep the lines pure as much as possible. If you get them at a mart, look very closely at them--I think it may be harder to find a female Blue-breasted CB.

And if you get mates for them, then you will need to keep them in separate cages. Male CBs will get along as long as there is not a hen around, but put a hen in the picture, and they will fight.