Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu
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| Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu | ||||||||||||||
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| Uraeginthus bengalus (Linnaeus, 1766) |
The Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu (Uraeginthus bengalus) is a small passerine bird. This estrildid finch is a resident breeding bird in drier regions of tropical sub- Saharan Africa.
The Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu is a small gregarious bird which feeds mainly on grain and other seeds. It frequents open grassland and cultivation. The nest is a large domed grass structure with a side entrance in a tree, bush or thatch into which 4-5 white eggs are laid.
The Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu is 12cm in length. The adult male has uniformly brown upperparts, pale blue breast, flanks and tail and a yellow belly. There is a red patch on each cheek.
Females are similar but duller, and lack the cheek spot. Immature birds are like the female, but with blue restricted to the face and throat.
This widespread and abundant species is often found around human habitation, and its piping tsee-tsee call is a familiar African sound. The song is a wit-sit-diddley-diddley-ee-ee.
Reference
- Birds of The Gambia by Barlow, Wacher and Disley, ISBN 1-873403-32-1