Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu (Uraeginthus bengalus), Gilbert, Water Ranch, Maricopa County

This Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu was discovered and photographed by Terry Thomas on 08 November 2009 near Pond 7 at the Gilbert Water Ranch.

This is a common cage bird and the second species of Cordon-bleu to be discovered at the Water Ranch!

I am a little rusty on my Cordon-bleu identification (!), but there are only two species with a red bill: Blue-capped and Orange-cheeked. The red bill makes this bird a male. If it were Blue-capped, the entire head would be blue. I am assuming the branch across the face has hidden the red-cheek patch that male Red-cheeked should have.

08 November 2009, photo by Terry Thomas