Hybrid Duck

[paulos]

I thought I'd share an unusual sighting in Creston. A couple days ago I came across a very unusual-looking Blue-winged Teal. I initially thought it must have  hybridized with a Cinnamon teal, but it was bigger, dark-green-headed, and had the wrong pattern on the breast and sides. It turned out to be a Northern Shoveler X Blue-winged Teal hybrid. One of the more unusual birds I've seen.

Here's the photo.

[murraybrown]

Interesting looking bird. I've seen a fair number of hybrids over the years but that one is new to me. In most cases a male Mallard is involved but obviously not this one.