Canvasback x (Redhead or Ring-necked Duck)

Canvasback x Ring-necked Duck or Canvasback x Redhead hybrid, Erie Reservoir, Boulder County (Colorado, USA), 4th February 2015 - copyright Steve Mlodinow

(photo ID: 1821)

Steve's photos of this one might not be his best but they were taken shortly before dusk on a cloudy day, so I think we can forgive him ;-)  He notes:

"The bill seemed to have some black around the base of the bill, and probably on the saddle [see photo ID 1819 below] as well as at the tip.  The bird looked paler than any of these photos indicated, with a distinctly darker head and upper neck.  No eyering."

Steve also tells us that there are photos of a male Canvasback x Redhead hybrid in the eBird collection that shows a bird "that alternates from the more Canvasback profile to that weird slope coming up of the bill and then flattening out on the crown".  He goes on to say:

"This bird has a bit more white around the face than I'd expect form this cross [Canvasback x Redhead].  It was with a Redhead and a Ring-necked Duck male, switching its attention from one to the other.  Its speculum was that of Ring-necked Duck/Canvasback/Redhead but not a scaup (or Tufted!).  My experience with Ring-necked Duck x Scaup hybrids is that the hybrids show the scaup parent's speculum.  The bird was smaller than the Redhead, so I wonder... Question, could this be a Canvasback x Ring-necked Duck?  I am actually leaning that way"

Canvasback x Ring-necked Duck or Canvasback x Redhead hybrid (same bird as in photo ID 1821 above), Erie Reservoir, Boulder County (Colorado, USA), 4th February 2015 - copyright Steve Mlodinow

(photo IDs: 1818-1820)

Canvasback Aythya valisineria
Redhead Aythya americana
Ring-necked Duck Aythya collaris

Redhead x Ring-necked Duck

Redhead x Ring-necked Duck hybrid, Siena Pond, Broomfield County (Colorado, USA), 27th December 2012 - copyright Steve Mlodinow

(photo ID: 1243)

Steve tells us that Scaup x Ring-necked Duck hybrids normally show less of a white terminal band on the bill and whiter sides, but of course the reddish hue on the head should rule out that possibility once seen.  Cathy was birding with Steve when he found this bird and she notes the maroon-coloured head, the darker back (compared to Redhead) and the more peaked head shape.  Apparently the tail feathers were also a shade darker than on Redhead.

Redhead x Ring-necked Duck hybrid (same bird as in photo ID 1243 above; with Redhead), Siena Pond, Broomfield County (Colorado, USA), 27th December 2012 - copyright Cathy Sheeter

(photo IDs: 1886-1887)

The flight views reveal further differences from Scaup hybrids - Steve points out that the entire speculum should be whiter in a cross with Greater Scaup and the secondaries/inner primaries should be paler in a hybrid with Lesser Scaup.

There is a photo of known (captive) Redhead x Ring-necked Duck hybrids on www.taxidermy.net.

Redhead x Ring-necked Duck hybrid (same bird as in photo ID 1243 and photo IDs 1886-1887 above; with Redhead), Siena Pond, Broomfield County (Colorado, USA), 27th December 2012 - copyright Steve Mlodinow

(photo IDs: 1239-1242)

Below is a second bird.  We can see that Redheads were present but Steve tells us there were no Ring-necked Ducks here.

Redhead x Ring-necked Duck hybrid (with Redheads), Loloff Reservoir, Weld County (Colorado, USA), 6th April 2015 - copyright Steve Mlodinow

(photo IDs: 2228-2230)

Redhead Aythya americana
Ring-necked Duck Aythya collaris

American Wigeon x Redhead

captive intersex female American Wigeon x Redhead hybrid, Skagit County (Washington, USA), 25th December 2009 - copyright Steve Mlodinow

(photo ID: 1539)

 
Steve tells us that this bird was paired with a male Redhead.  Intersexes (females developing male characteristics) seem to be much more frequent among hybrids than pure birds.

 captive intersex female American Wigeon x Redhead hybrid (with Redhead; same bird as in photo ID 1539, above), Skagit County (Washington, USA), 30th November 2008 - copyright Steve Mlodinow

(photo IDs: 1483-1484)

American Wigeon Anas americana
Redhead Aythya americana