FINCHforum

If you keep both of these finches (Red Cheek and Blue Cap Cordon Bleu)
what are the subtle differences between them? Which types song and calls do you prefer and why? If you could keep just one type, which would you choose and why?

These are both Cordon Bleus, very closely related, and very little behavioral differences between them. Both are beautiful waxbills, both male and female sing, very active and flighty, like most waxbills. All the CBs seem to have slight differences in song. If not breeding, there is no need to provide live food. If breeding, some may toss without live food. Both species can be difficult to breed, you must make them comfortable with their situation. Privacy, coco fiber/white feathers for nesting, endless supply of high protein food for the babies--and they still may toss.

With my particular birds, the BCCBs seem a little more calm than the RCCBs, that may just be my birds. The RCCBs have a funny staccato chattering call that they make when I come around their cage when they have eggs or babies, my BCCBs do not do this.

If I could have just one, I would choose the BCCB. That blue color covering the head is just spectacular. I just have a slight preference for them. My first CBs were a pair of RCCBs back in the 70s, they would incubate and hatch, but always tossed the babies, and I had little information available to me at that time to know what to do about it.

I originally wanted a pair of bccb's, but could not find any, so I bought rccb's. I am glad as I love their red cheeks and the male's mating dance. They are very quiet most of the time, except, like Sally said, when they chatter or scold me for coming into the bird room if they have young or eggs. I love the rccb's, but have never owned the other types.

Thank you for the replies to my questions so far. I have a new pair of Red Cheek CB that I got several weeks ago, and this is a new species of finch for us to keep. We are really enjoying them! I would describe them as active, yet calm to be near and we also like how quiet their song and calls are. I was thinking of getting a pair of the Blue Caps sometime in the future, as they look just lovely. I heard a sound clip online, of both a female Red Cheek and a female Blue Cap. From the clip, the Blue Cap sounded quit a bit louder? Do you find this true in real life? Of these two species, which ones calls and song to you prefer - for both the male and females and how does the volume on them compare?