FINCHforum

How do you tell the difference between a Red Cheeked Cordon Bleu hen and Blue Capped Cordon Bleu hen for sure? From the good photo links on another topic and description of each, I would still have a difficult time telling the difference. What do I look for?

There are 3 types of Cordon Bleus: Red Cheek (RCCB), Blue Capped (BCCB) and Blue Breasted (BBCB). In all three (BBCB, RCCB, and BCCB) the females are paler in color intensity than the males.

BBCB (Blue Breasted Cordon Bleu) both male and female have a grayish/silver beak. Females are noticibly paler in color than the males.

Pictures of both male and female BBCB - http://monacoeye.com/birds/index_files/ ... axbill.php

RCCB (Red Cheek Cordon Bleu) both male and female have rosey color beaks. Both have brown on the top of their heads. Males have red cheek patches. Female the blue on the face barely goes over the eye area with the brown covering the rest of the top of the head.

Male and Female RCCB - http://www.thatcutesite.com/uploads/201 ... birds1.jpg

BCCB (Blue Capped Cordon Bleu) both male and female have rosey color beaks. Male has blue covering the top of the head. Female has blue well covering the eye area and going up partway on the side of the head towards the top, with brown covering the rest of the head.

Male and Female BCCB - http://www.theonlinezoo.com/img/18/toz18115l.jpg

Excellent descriptions! All three hens are similar, but once you get used to looking at them, it is pretty easy to see the differences, especially in person, rather than in photos.