© GW - monacoeye • all rights reserved • Gambia, Mar 2013

Bird name: Red Cheeked Cordon Bleu
Latin: Uraeginthus bengalus
Other: Cordonbleu à joues rouges (fr), Schmetterlingsfink (De), blauwfazantje (Nl)
Family: Estrildidae • Estrildid Finches, Cordon-bleus
Range: W, C, E Africa
Similar: Blue Waxbill

The Red-cheeked Cordon-Bleu was often found in mixed flocks of similar-sized birds in grasslands in the Gambia, but hard to approach for photos. Often pecking and scratching in dusty ground.

Male Red-cheeked Cordon Bleus have the prominent red cheek, which is absent on females.

I didn’t see any for a week and then saw them very frequently.

Below, female/juvenile Red-cheeked Cordon Bleu. Gambia, Mar 2013.
More photos...

© Alexia W - monacoeye • all rights reserved • Kinshasa, Dec 2010

Bird name: Blue Waxbill
Latin: Uraeginthus angolensis
Other: Blue-breasted Cordon Bleu, Southern Cordon-bleu. Cordonbleu d'Angola (Fr)
Family: Estrildidae • Estrildid Finches, Cordon-bleus
Range: Southern Africa
Similar: female Red-Cheeked Cordon Bleu

Above, near a waterfall near Kinshasa, DRC. It looks very similar to female Red-Cheeked Cordon Bleu but Blue Waxbill is the common type in Kinshasa.More photos...

© André S - monacoeye • all rights reserved • Lake Victoria, Oct 2009

Bird name: Blue Capped Cordon Bleu
Latin: Uraeginthus cyanocephalus
Other: Cordonbleu cyanocéphale (Fr), Blaukopfschmetterlingsfink (De), blauwkopastrild (Nl)
Family: Estrildidae • Estrildid Finches, Cordon-bleus
Range: E Africa
Similar:

A Blue-capped Cordon-Bleu seen by André at Lake Victoria in Tanzania.