Bird
Red-cheeked Cordonbleu
Uraeginthus bengalusAlso known as Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu, Red-cheeked Cordon Bleu, Cordon-bleu Finch
Male red-cheeked cordonbleus wear striking sky-blue feathers accented by bright crimson cheek patches, while females display a softer palette without the red markings. These small finches spend their days flitting through dry savannas and thorn scrub in search of tiny grass seeds and termites. During courtship, both partners hold grass stems in their beaks and bounce rhythmically while rapidly tapping their feet in an extraordinary avian tap-dance.
SocialSongbirdColorful
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyGrass seeds, Termites, Ants
Predators
- Shrikes
- Snakes
- Domestic cats
ThreatsHabitat degradation, capture for the wild bird trade
HabitatsDry savannas, grasslands, thorn scrub, cultivated fields, village gardens
Life span5–7 years
Classification
- OrderPasseriformes
- FamilyEstrildidae
- GenusUraeginthus
- SpeciesUraeginthus bengalus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Spotting Flocks: Scan open grassy patches near acacia thickets where they forage on the ground.
- Listening for Calls: Listen for high-pitched, metallic 'tseet-tseet' calls to locate feeding groups.
- Observing Courtship: Watch low branches for courtship dances where birds bounce while holding grass stems.
Frequent Companion (c) Justin Ponder, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Justin Ponder · cc-by
Parasite (c) James M. Maley, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by James M. Maley · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Diogo Luiz, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Diogo Luiz · cc-by
Image unavailableClose Relative
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