Blue-capped Cordonbleu
Uraeginthus cyanocephalus
Silhouette: Sheatherius · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderPasseriformes (Perching Birds)
- FamilyEstrildidae (Waxbills and Allies)
- GenusUraeginthus (Cordonbleus)
- SpeciesUraeginthus cyanocephalus (Blue-capped Cordonbleu)
About the Blue-capped Cordonbleu
The blue-capped cordon-bleu or blue-capped cordonbleu (Uraeginthus cyanocephalus) is native to Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, and Tanzania in East Africa. This small finch does fairly well in captivity given adequate conditions; however, breeding this finch is said to be quite difficult.
The blue-capped cordon-bleu inhabits the subtropical or tropical (lowland) dry grasslands, shrublands, and deserts of subsaharan Africa. It has an estimated global extent of occurrence of 390,000 km2. The finch is an omnivorous passerine eating seeds and small insects. Most of this species do not exceed 7.5 cm (3.0 in) in length and are quiet relative to other finches.
Males have blue on the tops of their heads and tend to be more vivid in colour. On female blue-caps the light brown coloration on the wings extends to the nape of the neck and over the top the head. Pairs dance holding twigs in their beaks, and film using a high-speed camera shows partners tapping their feet between twenty-five and fifty times a second, making a buzzing sound. Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Blue-capped Cordonbleu in Ngorongoro Conservation Area
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Purple Grenadier
Uraeginthus ianthinogaster
Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu
Uraeginthus bengalus
Red-billed Firefinch
Lagonosticta senegala
Black-faced Waxbill
Estrilda erythronotos
Yellow-bellied Waxbill
Coccopygia quartinia
Crimson-rumped Waxbill
Estrilda rhodopyga
Black-faced Quailfinch
Ortygospiza atricollis
Gray-headed Negrofinch
Nigrita canicapillus
African Firefinch
Lagonosticta rubricata
Bronze Mannikin
Lonchura cucullata
Green-winged Pytilia
Pytilia melba
Black-and-white Mannikin
Lonchura bicolor
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tarangire National Park | 🇹🇿 Tanzania | |
| 2 | Ngorongoro Conservation Area | 🇹🇿 Tanzania | |
| 3 | Serengeti National Park | 🇹🇿 Tanzania | |
| 4 | Tsavo West National Park | 🇰🇪 Kenya | |
| 5 | Lake Manyara National Park | 🇹🇿 Tanzania | |
| 6 | Ruaha National Park | 🇹🇿 Tanzania | |
| 7 | Mkomazi National Park | 🇹🇿 Tanzania | |
| 8 | Samburu National Reserve | 🇰🇪 Kenya | |
| 9 | Tsavo East National Park | 🇰🇪 Kenya | |
| 10 | Amboseli National Park | 🇰🇪 Kenya | |
| 11 | Masai Mara National Reserve | 🇰🇪 Kenya | |
| 12 | Selous Game Reserve | 🇹🇿 Tanzania | |
| 13 | Meru National Park | 🇰🇪 Kenya | |
| 14 | Arusha National Park | 🇹🇿 Tanzania |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Blue-capped Cordonbleu in Ngorongoro Conservation Area?
About 20% of wildlife watchers report a Blue-capped Cordonbleu sighting in Ngorongoro Conservation Area, based on 825 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Blue-capped Cordonbleu in Ngorongoro Conservation Area?
February has the highest sighting rate for Blue-capped Cordonbleu in Ngorongoro Conservation Area in our monthly data.