Blue-capped Cordon Blues?

[CoMtnGal]

Here are some pictures of my pair. Just want to double check that the female is actually a BC!

[isobea]

CoMtnGal - I wish I could help but I only have a blue cap male. Have been looking for a female for him for over two months now.
Don't you love those birds? My male is always active, calling and singing. Have you had your pair for a while? Where did you get them? Around here only red cheek cordon bleus seem to be available.
Iso

[cjkrit]

It certainly looks like one. The pink beak indicate that.

[Sally]

It is possible the hen is a Red-cheeked Cordon Bleu hen. The differences are quite subtle, and easier to see when you have the different species to compare. Blue-capped hens tend to have a little blue on the top of their head just behind the beak, while with Red-cheeked hens, the brown on top of their head will touch the beak. Red-cheeked hens tend to have a longer, more pointy beak with a dark tip, while Blue-capped hens tend to have shorter, more conical, fuschia-colored beaks. Red-cheeked tend to have a longer, slimmer body and sit on the perch lower, while Blue-capped tend to have a more rounded body and sit more upright.

There has also been some cross-breeding between the species in the U.S., so that you can sometimes find hybrids that are very difficult to I.D.

[CoMtnGal]

I do love them! Found them at two different stores in Denver. It took the gal about 4 days to accept him. He is funny and dances with coconut fibers trying to impress her. He is also building nests in 3 different boxes/baskets. I've had them about a month now.

[CoMtnGal]

Argh. Well, the shop I got her at seems like a good one and had her labeled BC'd. But after reading here and finch info etc, I wondered. I appreciate the feedback and love this forum. So much great info.

[mrski]

She sure looks like a blue cap to me! My blue cap hen looks just like that. A paler shade of blue and more brown up on the back of her head. Enjoy!

[CoMtnGal]

Thanks for the input everyone. Just got the book Finches and Sparrows which convinces me my hen is a red-cheeked. Darn. My hen is identical to the one I'm pointing at. The blue-capped hen is below, center, just as Sally described.

[delray]

Sally I was thinking the same thing about her being a RCCB when I saw the photo. CoMtnGal My aunt had a pair of Red-Cheeks and the hen looked just like her.

[CoMtnGal]

Well guess what!?!?

My Blues have three EGGS! I got some nice soft dog hair and was going to sneak a little in the nest boxes and found one was occupied. The male seems to be doing all the incubating, but I'll watch closer to see if the female is taking the night shift.

I did notice the males tail has a curve in it and the female has been singing a very sweet song lately.

[w.l.]

Congrats.
Mind you, I would have left the eggs alone... Many waxbills don't like humans tampering with their nest/eggs/chicks and might abandon them if disturbed.

[isobea]

Congratulations! How wonderful! Something I can only dream about at this point since I'm still looking for a female for my guy. He is calling and singing all day every day hoping for a response from across the valley I guess.
I talked to one of the importers and he said blue caps might not come in until April/May. I guess patience is a virtue...
Iso

[Jen]

CoMtnGal
I have several RCCB in my aviary and your hen looks very similar. If I can get a photo of her, I will post it for you. I agree with everyone's comments regarding handling the eggs. You really need to stay as far from the nest as possible. It won't take much to have the parents leave the nest. I've had a few successes with babies but I've also had to learn the hard way to leave them alone.

Best of luck and keep us posted!

[CoMtnGal]

The egg I handled was actually in another nest that they were going back and forth from! I added it to the nest they picked and the male went right back in. Promise I won't bother them again.

[CoMtnGal]

jen, yes, my female may be RCCB, but they are happy together so that's what I have for now.