American Wigeon x Chiloe Wigeon

possible American Wigeon x Chiloe Wigeon hybrid, Paderborn (Northrhine-Westfalia, Germany), 4th November 2012 - copyright Joern Lehmhus

(photo ID: 1654)

Or as Joern described it himself, unusual American Wigeon, probably with Chiloe Wigeon genes.  Perhaps that's a better way of describing it as what this probably isn't is a first-generation hybrid offspring of a pairing between an American Wigeon and a Chiloe Wigeon.  If we're right in thinking Chiloe Wigeon genes are present, you will probably have to go further back than one generation to find the Chiloe Wigeon ancestor.  It looks too much like an American Wigeon.

Wrong for pure American Wigeon, I think, is the head pattern.  On American Wigeon the pale cream stripe extends from the forehead back to the centre of the crown, further back than on this bird.  It also lacks the warm orangey tones that seem to be present on this bird.  Other than that the bird is very close to American Wigeon, although a further discrepancy I think I can detect in one or two of the photos is pale whitish edges to some of the long scapulars.  That's a feature that could indeed point to Chiloe Wigeon influence.

possible American Wigeon x Chiloe Wigeon hybrid (same bird as in photo ID 1654 above), Paderborn (Northrhine-Westfalia, Germany), 4th November 2012 - copyright Joern Lehmhus

(photo IDs: 1655-1658)

American Wigeon Anas americana
Chiloe Wigeon Anas sibilatrix

Wood Duck x Aythya sp.

captive? Wood Duck x Aythya sp., Halle (Saxony-Anhalt, Germany), 1st November 2014 - copyright Joern Lehmhus

(photo ID: 1672)

Captive Wood Ducks seem to generate hybrids with a wide variety of duck species so hopefully it will only be a matter of time before we have a good enough understanding of the various Wood Duck x Aythya hybrids to be able to identify individuals like this more precisely.

captive? Wood Duck x Aythya sp. (with Wood Duck; same bird as in photo ID 1672 above), Halle (Saxony-Anhalt, Germany), 1st November 2014 - copyright Joern Lehmhus

(photo IDs: 1673-1674)

Wood Duck Aix sponsa
Pochard sp. Aythya sp.

Ringed Teal x Yellow-billed (Speckled) Teal

captive Ringed Teal x Yellow-billed (Speckled) Teal hybrid, Halle (Saxony-Anhalt, Germany), 1st November 2014 - copyright Joern Lehmhus

(photo ID: 1667)

With Speckled Teal having recently been split into Yellow-billed Teal (flavirostris) and Andean Teal (andium) I wasn't 100% sure that Joern was referring to flavirostris when he identified this as Ringed Teal x Speckled Teal.  I made that assumption despite the absence of yellow on the bill and Joern has now confirmed that that was indeed the case.  There were flavirostris but not andium in the collection and the pale flanks are closer to Yellow-billed too.

captive Ringed Teal x Yellow-billed (Speckled) Teal hybrid (with Ringed Teals, same bird as in photo ID 1667 above), Halle (Saxony-Anhalt, Germany), 1st November 2014 - copyright Joern Lehmhus

(photo IDs: 1668-1671)

Ringed Teal Callonetta leucophrys
Yellow-billed Teal Anas flavirostris

Bullock's Oriole x Baltimore Oriole

Bullock's Oriole x Baltimore Oriole hybrid, Tamarack Ranch, Logan County (Colorado, USA), 25th May 2014 - copyright Steve Mlodinow

(photo ID: 1590)

Steve reckons that in eastern Colorado the proportion of Bullock's/Baltimore Orioles that are hybrids is in the region of 20%.

Bullock's Oriole x Baltimore Oriole hybrid, north of Wray, Yuma County (Colorado, USA), 23rd May 2014 - copyright Steve Mlodinow

(photo IDs: 1588-1599)

Steve explains that the next female was coloured more like a Baltimore Oriole but has the face pattern of a Bullock's.  He says it's hard to be certain that it's a hybrid but it seems quite likely.

probable Bullock's Oriole x Baltimore Oriole hybrid, Wray, Yuma County (Colorado, USA), 25th May 2013 - copyright Steve Mlodinow

(photo IDs: 1162-1164)

The next male is a bit more straightforward with pretty obvious intermediate characters.

Bullock's Oriole x Baltimore Oriole hybrid, Prewitt Reservoir, Washington County (Colorado, USA), 12th July 2012 - copyright Steve Mlodinow

(photo IDs: 1259-1261)

Next up is a very Baltimore Oriole like bird, but Steve points us to the prominent white edging on the greater coverts, resulting in a pattern that is intermediate between Bullock's and Baltimore Orioles.  There's also a bit of orange near the eye, a mark that should not be present on a 'pure' Baltimore Oriole.

Bullock's Oriole x Baltimore Oriole hybrid, Prewitt Reservoir, Tamarack Ranch, Logan County (Colorado, USA), 25th May 2012 - copyright Steve Mlodinow

(photo ID: 1271)

Here's another fairly obviously intermediate bird:

Bullock's Oriole x Baltimore Oriole hybrid, Crow Valley Campground, Weld County (Colorado, USA), 24th May 2012 - copyright Steve Mlodinow

(photo IDs: 1282-1283)

The next one is presumably a first-year male, in an area which Steve tells us had a numnber of hybrid orioles with a wonderful array of phenotypes.

Bullock's Oriole x Baltimore Oriole hybrid, Tamarack Ranch, Logan County (Colorado, USA), 2nd July 2011 - copyright Steve Mlodinow

(photo ID: 1396)

Bullock's Oriole x Baltimore Oriole hybrid, St Francis, Cheyenne County (Kansas, USA), 8th June 2015 - copyright Steve Mlodinow

(photo ID: 2261)

Bullock's Oriole x Baltimore Oriole hybrid, Neenoshe Locust Grove, Kiowa County (Colorado, USA), 30th August 2015 - copyright Steve Mlodinow

(photo ID: 2282)

The next one looks much like Bullock's Oriole but Steve points out the face is olive, the chest brighter, and there is no hint of eyeline.  The grey back and overall dull coloration points away from Baltimore Oriole.

Bullock's Oriole x Baltimore Oriole hybrid, Frenchman Creek SWA, Phillips County (Colorado, USA), 23rd May 2015 - copyright Steve Mlodinow

(photo ID: 2255)

Bullock's Oriole x Baltimore Oriole hybrid, location not given (Colorado, USA), 10th May 2008 - copyright Christian Nunes

(photo IDs: 2329-2331)

Steve tells us that pure Baltimore Orioles are somewhat rare this far west, as are hybrids.

Bullock's Oriole x Baltimore Oriole hybrid, Union Reservoir, Weld County (Colorado, USA), 2nd July 2016 - copyright Steve Mlodinow

(photo IDs: 2865-2866)

Females are inevitably trickier to identify with confidence and it's no surprise that some people view records with scepticism.  Steve writes:

"Whenever I suggest that a female oriole is a hybrid, I receive pushback from experienced birders. I've not been able to photograph a female that seems to make most birders happy that it is a hybrid. Yet, give the number of male Bullock's Oriole x Baltimore Oriole hybrids that occur in easternmost Colorado, there has to be females. This bird has an orange chest, the brightest part of the bird, like a Baltimore Oriole. Yet it also appears to have a darkish line through the eye, a hint of a supercilium and some dusky on the crown: reminiscent of a Bullock's Oriole . The back color seems more Bullock's Oriole like, the facial color dullish, like a Baltimore Oriole, and the serrated upperwing bar is kind-of separated. So, methinks this is a hybrid."

His logic makes sesne to me... what do you think?

Bullock's Oriole x Baltimore Oriole hybrid, Lion's Fishing Hole, Holyoke, Phillips County (Colorado, USA), 28th August 2016 - copyright Steve Mlodinow

(photo IDs: 2867-2868)

Bullock's Oriole Icterus bullockii
Baltimore Oriole Icterus galbula

Lazuli Bunting x Indigo Bunting

Lazuli Bunting x Indigo Bunting hybrid, Tamarack Ranch, Logan County (Colorado, USA), 25th May 2012 - copyright Steve Mlodinow

(photo ID: 1272)

This is perhaps one of the better known passerine hybrids in North America and the individual Steve photographed here is pretty clearly intermediate between the two species.

Lazuli Bunting x Indigo Bunting hybrid (same bird as in photo ID 1272 above), Tamarack Ranch, Logan County (Colorado, USA), 25th May 2012 - copyright Steve Mlodinow

(photo IDs: 1273-1274)

With the next bird Steve notes the dark colouration, a single wingbar and limited orange on the chest.  He tells us that singing males of both parental species were present at the same location during the summer, though this singing male is clearly not this year's offspring.

Lazuli Bunting x Indigo Bunting hybrid, Prewitt Reservoir, Washington County (Colorado, USA), 31st July 2013 - copyright Steve Mlodinow

(photo ID: 1156)

The next bird was present in a canyon with 5 Indigo Buntings.

Lazuli Bunting x Indigo Bunting hybrid, Cottonwood Canyon, Baca County (Colorado, USA), 18th May 2015 - copyright Steve Mlodinow

(photo ID: 2251)

The next one was paired with an apparent hybrid female.  Steve says this hybrid is uncommon, but not rare, in eastern Colorado.

Lazuli Bunting x Indigo Bunting hybrid, Ovid Woods, Sedgwick County (Colorado, USA), 24th May 2015 - copyright Steve Mlodinow

(photo ID: 2256)

Steve notes that the next bird is rather Lazuli-like.  It had distinctly less orange on the chest, only one wingbar, and darker blue plumage, none of which is easily discernible given the angles and lighting in the photos.

Lazuli Bunting x Indigo Bunting hybrid, Prewitt Reservoir, Washington County (Colorado, USA), 15th July 2015 - copyright Steve Mlodinow

(photo IDs: 2264-2265)

Lazuli Bunting Passerina amoena
Indigo Bunting Passerina cyanea

Rose-breasted Grosbeak x Black-headed Grosbeak

presumed Rose-breasted Grosbeak x Black-headed Grosbeak hybrid, Bayfield Riverside Park, La Plata County (Colorado, USA), 4th June 2014 - copyright Steve Mlodinow

(photo ID: 1636)

Steve notes that the colour is limited to the chest, with more reddish hues centrally, combined with the largely white underparts.  This would be unusual for Black-headed Grosbeak (even first year male) and common among hybrids.  Furthermore, Steve says, the white striping on the head is a Rose-breasted Grosbeak trait.  Black-headed Grosbeaks usually show buff stripes.

presumed Rose-breasted Grosbeak x Black-headed Grosbeak hybrid (same bird as in photo ID 1636 above), Bayfield Riverside Park, La Plata County (Colorado, USA), 4th June 2014 - copyright Steve Mlodinow

(photo ID: 1637)

Steve says he consulted with several others about the next mystery bird.  Their advice points to it likely being a female, probably an older bird showing male-like traits.  That explains the bright orange-tinted yellow triangle on chest which would point to Rose-breasted Grosbeak, albeit aberrant.  However, the streaking is more like Black-headed Grosbeak as is the buff in the forward portion of the supercilium.

Steve points out that both photos are a bit off colour-wise.  The first was exposed more correctly, but there was some blur due to slow shutter speed, making the streaking appear less prominent (and there's a peculiar green hue which is unexplained).  The second photo was underexposed, but shows basic patterns better.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak x Black-headed Grosbeak hybrid, Apple Valley Road, just west of Lyons, Boulder County (Colorado, USA), 15th June 2012 - copyright Steve Mlodinow

(photo IDs: 1160-1161)

The next one is believed to be most likely an adult female in fresh winter plumage.  Steve notes that the heavy streaking on sides/flanks seems beyond the range of a Black-headed Grosbeak at this season (some juveniles approach this).  Also, the intensity of colour on the chest combined with the rather white belly seems odd for a Black-headed Grosbeak.  On the other hand the orange throat as well as chest seems unlike a Rose-breasted Grosbeak, and if an adult female, one would expect more streaking on centre of chest.
 

Rose-breasted Grosbeak x Black-headed Grosbeak hybrid, Santiago (Baja California Sur, Mexico), 13th December 2011 - copyright Steve Mlodinow

(photo IDs: 1342-1344)

For the next one Steve writes:

"The fine streaking is like that of BHGR, but the extent is more that of RBGR (streaking on undertail coverts not right for BHGR?). The color beneath is yellow, but forms a triangle. In this apparent female, one would wonder why the color would be in the distribution of a male RBGR, but in the 3 other female-type hybrids that I've found, this has been the case. The bill is diffusely pink with some vague duskiness, in between BHGR and RBGR."

apparent Rose-breasted Grosbeak x Black-headed Grosbeak hybrid, Stulp Farms, Prowers County (Colorado, USA), 20th May 2015 - copyright Steve Mlodinow

(photo IDs: 2257-2260)

Rose-breasted Grosbeak Pheucticus ludovicianus
Black-headed Grosbeak Pheucticus melanocephalus