FINCHforum

Are they the same species?
Blue caps as advertised.

They certainly look that way. The male is definitely a bluecap. The female looks like one. I have a problem differentiating between RC and Blue Cap females, if both are not present. What makes it even more murky is that some people have cross-bred the RC and Blue Caps. If I were a betting man, I would put money on it being Blue Caps.

That hen looks no good. You have had enough tragedy with your birds....I would pass on this pair, or at least the hen in the front. Good luck.

Thanks for the help!

The hen does look dodgy doesn't she?
I don't need the grief again!

That's why I snapped a picture with my phone!
I new someone would have the answers !

Don't Blue Caps have blue heads?

It does not look like a BC male to me unless they are young. Not enough blue. See below. This is a pic of my male Blue Cap and it is very different from my female. Not sure if you can tell in the photo. Also it seems like the beaks on these are "pointier". It seems like I have seen this in Red Cheeks.

My blue cap male had a completely blue head, no brown on the head at all.

Chase yours does look like a Blue Cap cause of the pretty blue head. I have a Blue Breasted CB

Are they supposed to be a male/female pair of Blue-caps? Neither one is a male Blue-cap, which would have the entire top of its head blue. Both of these birds have brown on the top of their heads. The one in the background looks like it could be RCCB hen. The one in the foreground looks like it could be BCCB hen.

And I agree, the one in the foreground looks puffy, with squinty eyes. I would question its health.

I agree with Sally and others. The back one looks like an rccb hen and the front one may bccb, but she does not look healthy to me either. I'd pass for the health concerns.

Mmm its always difficult to tell the difference in the hens. Usually I find a RCCB has a darker beak (well thats how I see the difference myself).
Hybrids I believe you can tell by seeing their more upright stance.
The BCCB male is very distinct from all the other CB's. You can see how totally blue his head is. BCCB hen (sorry not the greatest pic, looks like I took it on a cool winter day)

monotwine wrote:Mmm its always difficult to tell the difference in the hens. Usually I find a RCCB has a darker beak (well thats how I see the difference myself).
Hybrids I believe you can tell by seeing their more upright stance.
The BCCB male is very distinct from all the other CB's. You can see how totally blue his head is.

BCCB cock green.jpg

BCCB cock SA.jpg

BCCB hen (sorry not the greatest pic, looks like I took it on a cool winter day)

BCCB hen SA.jpg

Now I was told that the BCCB has a bright fuchsia beak compared to the RCCB which is more "pinky tan"? Does anyone agree with this as a generalization? I'm very curious because I was sold a "female" RCCB that produced three babies with what was I thought a BCCB female. Now I'm confused ---- ? The three babies that hatched in mid september have no red cheeks or a totally blue head, think they look a lot like big bear's pic from the store.

procfamily, can you post photos of your 'pair' that produced three babies. Obviously, one of them is male, and it could be that you have some hybrids. Unfortunately, this is one species that has been cross-bred quite a bit in the U.S. The hens of each species are very similar, and this is where the confusion usually comes in. The males are much easier to identify, basically the BCCB has a totally blue head, the RCCB has brown on top of the head and a red cheek patch, and the BBCB has brown on top of its head and a grayish beak. I fear that one day, the hybrids will outnumber the purebreds, and three distinct separate species will become one in U.S. aviculture--a shame.

Procfamily, I previously posted two photos that I think show the different in an RCCB vs. a BCCB hen. I am posting them again. You can see that the BCCB hen has a bright fuschia beak. The RCCB hen's beak is never that bright but IS more pinky tan. Also, a BCCB hen has denser feathers on the head creating a higher and rounder crest when the feathers are raised.

It's very easy to tell them apart if you have both species but not so easy if you dont. I hope this helps.

(Just a P.S)> Monique, your photos (as usual) are spectacular. I am still using the photo you sent me of your upside down PF as wallpaper on my laptop.

BigBear0007 wrote:[ http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee296/buster001/f845ce49.jpg ]

Are they the same species?
Blue caps as advertised.

So the one the bachground is a Red Cheek hen?
She looks healthy! Always active except when I took the picture!
I know where to get a male!

Should I risk it?