Now you got me worried!!

[BigBear0007]

After all the talk about Cordon Bleu's being hybrids or crosses with other varieties, now I am not sure about mine!!??

[BigBear0007]

In this photo, The hen's head is all brown.

[Ursula]

I'm not an expert, but they look like red cheeks to me... Blue caps have that brighter and shorter beak. Don't they?

[BigBear0007]

When I bought this pair, there was blue caps also in another cage.
The differance was emediate. The males were much bluer than the hens.
Also the heads were all blue on both sexes.
I debated on which ones to get, but the red cheeks did something for me.

Jerry

[Sally]

Yep, Red-cheeked. See how long and pointy and dark-tipped the beaks are? All brown on top of the hen's head? And as Jayburd pointed out, their posture? Nice big cheek patches on the male. I wouldn't even question these two, Jerry. My Red-cheeks also tend to have longer, slimmer bodies than the Blue-caps, and they also may be a little bit smaller.

It's much easier to see the difference when you have both types.

When they have eggs and babies, the Red-cheeks have a distinct, staccato call they do, an alarm call, scolding, telling you to keep away. You will know when you hear it, it is quite loud and rapid. Don't hear that with my Blue-caps, and don't know why.

[BigBear0007]

Yep, Red-cheeked. See how long and pointy and dark-tipped the beaks are? All brown on top of the hen's head? And as Jayburd pointed out, their posture? Nice big cheek patches on the male. I wouldn't even question these two, Jerry. My Red-cheeks also tend to have longer, slimmer bodies than the Blue-caps, and they also may be a little bit smaller.

It's much easier to see the difference when you have both types.

When they have eggs and babies, the Red-cheeks have a distinct, staccato call they do, an alarm call, scolding, telling you to keep away. You will know when you hear it, it is quite loud and rapid. Don't hear that with my Blue-caps, and don't know why.

Thanks Sally and Ursulla,

I feel better now!
First time owners of a species can be a little paranoid!

Jerry

[Sally]

It is not always easy to tell on CBs unless you have the different types in front of you to compare. Unfortunately, in the U.S. at least, there are a few breeders who don't care anything about the species, just mass producing lots of babies, so they don't take the extra effort to keep the bloodlines pure. Bird mills!!

[CandoAviary]

It is not always easy to tell on CBs unless you have the different types in front of you to compare. Unfortunately, in the U.S. at least, there are a few breeders who don't care anything about the species, just mass producing lots of babies, so they don't take the extra effort to keep the bloodlines pure. Bird mills!!

Not just the bird mills but many inexperienced finch keepers that just don't know the difference... or in some causes do know but don't care, or when you try to teach them the difference they just ignore it anyway, and with an attitude to boot
I see many questionable birds at marts and see them past on to unsuspecting buyers. It really pays to research the bird species before buying so you know how to spot the real McCoy....
I recently made a mistake and bought a species on impulse without doing my homework... I do believe now I have 2 females.... Back to the books for me

[Queen_Bee]

Yours look pretty much identical to mine. I would say that we've both got RCCBs!

[Jayburd]

I think they're both pretty pure RCs... best to watch their behaviour.