Red-cheeked Cordonbleu

Also 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.