Bufflehead x Hooded Merganser

Bufflehead x Hooded Merganser hybrid (right, with Bufflehead), Firestone Gravel Pits, Weld County (Colorado, USA), 2nd May 2017 - copyright Steve Mlodinow

(photo ID: 3218)

Steve notes that that there is a bit of a crest, which changes in shape over time as the bird assumes different attitudes.  The white on the head is also oriented more towards rear than top.  The bill and tail are longer than those of a Bufflehead, with the entire bird being a bit larger as well.

Bufflehead x Hooded Merganser hybrid (same bird as in photo ID 3218 above), Firestone Gravel Pits, Weld County (Colorado, USA), 2nd May 2017 - copyright Steve Mlodinow

(photo ID: 3219)

Bufflehead Bucephala albeola
Hooded Merganser Lophodytes cucullatus

Common Goldeneye x Hooded Merganser

Common Goldeneye x Hooded Merganser hybrid, Ottawa River (Ontario, Canada), 26th October - copyright Gordon Johnston

(photo ID: 2997)

Goldeneye sp. x Hooded Merganser hybrids are fairly frequently reported in the wild and broadly speaking this is a typical plumage for either.  The majority of reports probably relate to Common Goldeneye x Hooded Merganser.  The head colour seems to reflect that of the Goldeneye parent species at least in many instances, but you can't really make that out here.  However the extent of white in the scapulars helps clinch this one as involving Common Goldeneye rather than Barrow's Goldeneye.

We already have a page featuting a probable female Goldeneye sp. x Hooded Merganser which, in view of the extent of yellow on its bill is possibly more likely to involve Barrow's Goldeneye.


Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula
Barrow's Goldeneye Bucephala islandica
Hooded Merganser Lophodytes cucullatus

Barrow's Goldeneye x Hooded Merganser

Barrow's Goldeneye x Hooded Merganser hybrid, Lake Merritt, Oakland (California, USA), 19th December 2007- copyright Doug Greenberg

(photo ID: 2080)

Goldeneye x Hooded Merganser hybrids are not infrequently reported in North America but in most cases the Goldeneye parent is a Common Goldeneye.   This Goldeneye parent of this bird is believed to be a Barrow's.  Joern has mentioned that in his experience Common Goldeneye x Hooded Merganser hybrids generally show a greenish head gloss, more white on scapulars and paler flanks.  Some individuals also have odd white markings on the head (differing from those of either parent) - but of course it may be that this is true of some Barrow's hybrids too.

This striking bird wintered at the same site for several winters and has proved quite popular: many birders have travelled to see and photograph it - Doug's photos are especially impressive!

Barrow's Goldeneye x Hooded Merganser hybrid (same bird as in photo ID 2080 above), Lake Merritt, Oakland (California, USA), 19th December 2007- copyright Doug Greenberg

(photo ID: 2079)

 Barrow's Goldeneye x Hooded Merganser hybrid (same bird as in photo IDs 2079-2080 above), Lake Merritt, Oakland (California, USA), 16th December 2007- copyright Doug Greenberg

(photo IDs: 2077-2078)

Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula
Barrow's Goldeneye Bucephala islandica
Hooded Merganser Lophodytes cucullatus

Goldeneye sp. x Hooded Merganser

possible Goldeneye sp. x Hooded Merganser hybrid, location unspecified but presumed to be shot in North America, date unspecified but presumed to be on or shortly before 4th February 2015 - copyright Billy Hull

(photo ID: 1824)

This is the second of the shot ducks I've been sent photos of in the last few days.  The correspondent (Bunn Boddie) wondered about Wood Duck x Goldeneye, but while I can certainly see Goldeneye in it I suspect the thinness of the bill may point to Hooded Merganser as the second parent.  This is a more likely hybrid - one that's known to occur regularly in the wild - and the wing pattern is more as I would expect on such a hybrid.

The yellow on the bill is more extensive than on Hooded Merganser or on typical Common Goldeneye, and that makes me wonder if the Goldeneye parent might have been Barrow's Goldeneye.  However, as some Common Goldeneyes can show more extensive yellow-orange colour on the bill than normal individuals I suspect they may carry the necessary genes to throw up such a feature in a hybrid.

To my eyes the photos seem to show a hint of green plumage on the head, especially at the rear of the crown.  I'm not sure if this is real, but if so that would suggest it is not a female Goldeneye x Hooded Merganser hybrid, but it may be ok for a first-winter male (or alternatively it could be an intersex female).

possible Goldeneye sp. x Hooded Merganser hybrid (same bird as in photo ID 1824 above), location unspecified but presumed to be shot in North America, date unspecified but presumed to be on or shortly before 4th February 2015 - copyright Billy Hull

(photo IDs: 1822-1823)

Common Goldeney Bucephala clangula
Barrow's Goldeneye Bucephala islandica
Hooded Merganser Lophodytes cucullatus

Smew x Hooded Merganser

captive Smew x Hooded Merganser hybrid, Blakeney Collection (Norfolk, UK), 15th October 2011 - copyright Dave Appleton

(photo ID: 0499)

Although this hybrid has been recorded in a wild situation I'm not sure if it has definitely occurred as a result of a pairing between two wild birds.  Such a hybrid is feasible as either species may occur as a vagrants within the other species' normal range.  Both parent species are attractive and so popular with collectors, so hybrids originating in captivity occur more frequently.

The owner of the collection where these birds were photographed confirmed that they were acquired from another collection, hence their appearance despite no Smew having been present.  Two similar birds were present initially, subseqently reducing to one - I am not 100% sure if both birds appear in the photos below.

Initially both birds had grey flanks with virtually no hint of orange.  Over a number of year the flanks of the remaining bird became increasingly orange.

 captive Smew x Hooded Merganser hybrid, Blakeney Collection (Norfolk, UK), 11th April 2009 - copyright Dave Appleton

(photo ID: 0488)

 captive Smew x Hooded Merganser hybrid, Blakeney Collection (Norfolk, UK), 26th April 2009 - copyright Dave Appleton

(photo ID: 0489)

captive Smew x Hooded Merganser hybrid, Blakeney Collection (Norfolk, UK), 13th February 2010 - copyright Dave Appleton

(photo ID: 0490)

 captive Smew x Hooded Merganser hybrid, Blakeney Collection (Norfolk, UK), 4th December 2010 - copyright Dave Appleton

(photo IDs: 0491-0495)

captive Smew x Hooded Merganser hybrid, Blakeney Collection (Norfolk, UK), 12th February 2011 - copyright Dave Appleton

(photo ID: 0496)

 captive Smew x Hooded Merganser hybrid, Blakeney Collection (Norfolk, UK), 15th October 2011 - copyright Dave Appleton

(photo IDs: 0497-0498)

captive Smew x Hooded Merganser hybrid, Blakeney Collection (Norfolk, UK), 1st  December 2012 - copyright Dave Appleton

(photo ID: 0500)

captive Smew x Hooded Merganser hybrid, Blakeney Collection (Norfolk, UK), 19th January 2013 - copyright Dave Appleton

(photo IDs: 0501-0502)

Smew Mergellus albellus
Hooded Merganser Lophodytes cucullatus