GW Teal - Northern Pintail hybrid?

[neepgrin]

Hi folks, noticed this little fellow in a puddled field in rosedale. He seems to have the white neck accent and the elongated pintail. Altho he is missing the copper crest. Is it really a hybrid? Anyone?

[Gord]

Linda, sharp eye as always!

I think you have indeed found a hybrid but I think not a 50/50 one such as shown on the website.

I think it's a backcrossed combination of Northern Pintail and Mallard but more than 80% pintail. The colouration/pattern, including what looks like the top of a yellowish leg(?), a tad heavier bill and a shorter and possibly slightly curled tail points towards the Mallard ancestry. This will be what happens if the 50/50 hybrid were to breed with a pintail instead of a mallard. I would think that the first breeding could go either way with either parent species but after that, resulting offspring will likely continue pairing with the species closest to who they are such as we seem to see here. Just a guess all the same. Sure has the potential for a mess of species such as found with the Blue and Golden-winged Warblers back east.

Nice! ;D

[neepgrin]

Thanks for the info, as always a wealth. I'm just happy that I noticed it and that he sat still for pics. It seems by your info that I have yet more to learn and consider when dealing with hybrids. I thought mallard might be in the mix, thanks for clarifying.

Linda

[Wetlander]

Cool bird, Linda!!!