Dark-eyed Junco intergrade ('Oregon Junco' x 'Pink-sided Junco'), Barr Lake, Adams County (Colorado, USA), 25th December 2012 - copyright Steve Mlodinow
(photo ID: 1228)
Steve's comments on this bird are:
"This junco fits Oregon x Pink-sided Junco well. Given their extensive zone of contact, one would expect such intergrades to be relatively frequent, but I would guess that most of us place them in the Pink-sided or Oregon Junco bin as we ID them (myself included). This bird's sides are much like a Pink-sided Junco, but the head is darker than typical for that taxon and the face mask relatively weak. The back is more Oregon like."
(See also: Slate-coloured Junco x Oregon Junco, Pink-sided Junco x White-winged Junco, Pink-sided Junco x Grey-headed Junco, Grey-headed Junco x Red-backed Junco)
Dark-eyed Junco Junco hyemalis
Oregon Junco' Junco hyemalis oreganus-group
Pink-sided Junco' Junco hyemalis mearnsi-group
This photo resembles the Juncos we see at our bird feeders here in Santa Fe, NM. Are there other bird watchers in this geographic area who have similar sightings or perhaps variations of the hybrid?
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure, Merlin. Do you have any photos of your birds?
DeleteYes, seen something like this in CT today, though it's back looked more Robin like. Junco head though.
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