Red-Cheeked Cordonbleu

The red-cheeked cordonbleu is found in the drier regions of tropical sub-Saharan Africa. There are four subspecies which vary primarily on the amount of blue on the face and underparts of the female. We saw the ssp. bengalus which is found from south Mauritania to Guinea to Ethiopia, Uganda and west Kenya. The adult male has brown upperparts, pale blue breast, flanks and tail and a yellow belly. There is a red patch on each cheek which can rarely appear orange or yellow. Females are similar, but more dull and do not have the red spot on the cheek. Immature birds are like the female, but only have blue on the face and throat. 

I saw them first on the hill between Nkima Forest Lodge and the Mabamba Swamp above Lake Victoria near Entebbe. I only got a few horribly blurred photos which I haven't used. My best sighting was while I was sitting on the patio of our cottage at the Savannah Lodge just outside Kidepo Valley NP. They were feeding on the ground just below where I was sitting and then I had one land on a wood rail about two feet away from me. That made for good photos. 

On the wooden rail near me at the Savannah Lodge.

On the ground below our patio at the Savannah Lodge.

A female on our walking safari in Kidepo Valley NP. 

A female on the ground below our patio at the Savannah Lodge.

An immature bird somewhere in Kidepo Valley NP. 

Illustration of a male, bengalus, from Birds of the World. 

Illustration of a female, bengalus, from Birds of the World. 

Range map from Birds of the World.