American Wigeon x Green-winged Teal

American Wigeon x Green-winged Teal, Walden Ponds, Boulder County (Colorado, USA), 29th March 2011 - copyright Steve Mlodinow

(photo ID: 1437)

Steve tells us that this rather beautiful hybrid was in between Cinnamon Teal and American Wigeon in size and apparently paired with a female American Wigeon.  The bill is intermediate in colour and shape between the two parent species.  It has an indistinct vertical stripe on the sides of the breast but this is buff where it would be white on a Green-winged Teal.  The difference between forhead and cheek colour is reminiscent of American x Eurasian Wigeon hybrids but the chestnut is supplied by the Green-winged Teal genes.  The way the green wraps around neck is consistent with American Wigeon.  The speculum is green with a buff anterior border and black posterior border.  What can be seen of wing coverts look mottled grey and whitish.  The tail is longer than that of Green-winged Teal.

American Wigeon x Green-winged Teal, Walden Ponds, Boulder County (Colorado, USA), 29th March 2011 - copyright Steve Mlodinow

(photo IDs: 1432-1436)

American Wigeon Anas americana
Green-winged Teal Anas (crecca) carolinensis