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

Yellow Grosbeak x Black-headed Grosbeak

Yellow Grosbeak x Black-headed Grosbeak hybrid, Tucson Sonoran Desert Museum (Arizona, USA), December 2010 - copyright Steve Mlodinow

(photo ID: 1485)

This is a captive bird in a museum that specialises in species that are native to the Sonoran Desert.  I gather it mainly stocks Black-headed Grosbeaks but must have had at least one Yellow Grosbeak (a rare vagrant in Arizona) at one point.
 

Yellow Grosbeak x Black-headed Grosbeak hybrid, Tucson Sonoran Desert Museum (Arizona, USA), December 2010 - copyright Steve Mlodinow

(photo ID: 1485)

Yellow Grosbeak Pheucticus chrysopeplus
Black-headed Grosbeak Pheucticus melanocephalus

Dark-eyed Junco intergrades - Pink-sided Junco x Grey-headed Junco

Dark-eyed Junco intergrade ('Pink-sided Junco' x 'Grey-headed Junco'), Red Rocks Trading Post, Jefferson County (Colorado, USA), 7th January 2012 - copyright Steve Mlodinow

(photo ID: 1334)

Steve comments on this bird:

"Note the bright red back, a feature of both parental types, but more prominent in Grey-headed Junco.  Also note the red on crown, a Grey-headed Junco feature.  However, flanks are an admixture of pink and gray, intermediate between the two taxa.  I think that the head, particularly the throat, looks paler than typical of Grey-headed Junco as well."

Dark-eyed Junco intergrade ('Pink-sided Junco' x 'Grey-headed Junco') (same bird as in photo ID 1334 above), Red Rocks Trading Post, Jefferson County (Colorado, USA), 7th January 2012 - copyright Steve Mlodinow

(photo IDs: 1335-1336)

The next one was at the same place, same day.  Steve notes that this bird has less pink on the sides that the one above but its back colour and dark lores are more like Pink-sided.  Also it had a slight hooded effect which he says a Grey-headed wouldn't show.  There is too much grey beneath for a Pink-sided Junco.

Dark-eyed Junco intergrade ('Pink-sided Junco' x 'Grey-headed Junco'), Red Rocks Trading Post, Jefferson County (Colorado, USA), 7th January 2012 - copyright Steve Mlodinow

(photo ID: 1337)

On the next bird Steve draws attention to the moderate mix of pink and grey on the sides, its vague hooded appearance and Grey-headed Junco like bright red back.

Dark-eyed Junco intergrade ('Pink-sided Junco' x 'Grey-headed Junco'), near Lyons, Larimer County (Colorado, USA), 5th January 2014 - copyright Steve Mlodinow

(photo IDs: 1113-1114)

 

The next photo shows the same bird.  Steve notes that from the side it looks rather like a Pink-sided Junco with a bit of grey washed in the sides but a rather bright red back.  He assures us that the grey wash on the flanks was real, making them duller than one would normally find in a Pink-sided Junco.

Dark-eyed Junco intergrade ('Pink-sided Junco' x 'Grey-headed Junco') (same bird as in photo IDs 1113-1114 above), near Lyons, Larimer County (Colorado, USA), 5th January 2014 - copyright Steve Mlodinow

(photo ID: 1116)

Same place, same day, but different bird.  Steve points out that this bird looks rather like a Grey-headed Junco but notes some pink washed on the sides and a hint of a hooded appearance.

Dark-eyed Junco intergrade ('Pink-sided Junco' x 'Grey-headed Junco'), near Lyons, Larimer County (Colorado, USA), 5th January 2014 - copyright Steve Mlodinow

(photo ID: 1115)

The hooded effect with greyish sides initially led Steve to think that this bird was a "Cassiar" Junco (see Slate-coloured Junco x Oregon Junco).  However, Steve tellls us that unlike typical birds from that population, this bird showed significant pink wash on its sides.  More importantly, the back was intense red, as would only be seen in an adult male Slate-coloured x Oregon Junco (of which Cassiar is a version).  This bird is clearly not an adult male - indeed the bit of brown on the nape and crown strongly suggests it is a first year bird.  The bright chestnut-red back, sides washed in pink and grey, medium grey hood and dark lores all point to a Pink-sided x Grey-headed Junco.

Dark-eyed Junco intergrade ('Pink-sided Junco' x 'Grey-headed Junco'), Lyons, Boulder County (Colorado, USA), 16th March 2013 - copyright Steve Mlodinow

(photo IDs: 1194-1195)

The next three photos show different birds, all taken at the same place and time.  Note the intermediate flank colour on the first bird.

Dark-eyed Junco intergrade ('Pink-sided Junco' x 'Grey-headed Junco'), Red Rocks Trading Post, Jefferson County (Colorado, USA), 25th December 2012 - copyright Steve Mlodinow

(photo ID: 1231)

On the next one Steve notes the hooded effect and fairly extensive pink on the sides in an otherwise Grey-headed Junco like bird.

Dark-eyed Junco intergrade ('Pink-sided Junco' x 'Grey-headed Junco'), Red Rocks Trading Post, Jefferson County (Colorado, USA), 25th December 2012 - copyright Steve Mlodinow

(photo ID: 1230)

This one looks more like a Grey-headed Junco but with a couple distinct patches of bright pink on the sides and some pink wash in between.

Dark-eyed Junco intergrade ('Pink-sided Junco' x 'Grey-headed Junco'), Red Rocks Trading Post, Jefferson County (Colorado, USA), 25th December 2012 - copyright Steve Mlodinow

(photo ID: 1229)

On the next Steve notes the brick red back of a Grey-headed Junco and the sides mixed in grey and pink, as one would expect from an intergrade.

Dark-eyed Junco intergrade ('Pink-sided Junco' x 'Grey-headed Junco'), Red Rocks Trading Post, Jefferson County (Colorado, USA), 11th December 2014 - copyright Steve Mlodinow

(photo ID: 1713)

Although mostly resembling a Grey-headed Junco (medium-dark grey head extending down toward belly with bright chestnut back), Cathy points out thatthe pink smudges on the side below the wing hints at it being a hybrid.

Dark-eyed Junco intergrade ('Pink-sided Junco' x 'Grey-headed Junco'), Red Rocks Trading Post, Jefferson County (Colorado, USA), 25th December 2012 - copyright Cathy Sheeter

(photo ID: 1882)

On this one the warm pink cast on the entire side hints at this bird as being a hybrid.  The colour of the primaries and secondaries also appears intermediate between the two taxa (not as pink asPink-sided , but not as grey as Grey-headed).  Cathy points out that the rusty smudges on the head are not uncommon on Grey-headed Junco.  Steve adds that the hooded appearance pretty well clinches the ID.

Dark-eyed Junco intergrade ('Pink-sided Junco' x 'Grey-headed Junco'), Red Rocks Trading Post, Jefferson County (Colorado, USA), 25th December 2012 - copyright Cathy Sheeter

(photo ID: 1883)

Dark-eyed Junco intergrade ('Pink-sided Junco' x 'Grey-headed Junco'), Elderado Mountain Open Space, Boulder County (Colorado, USA), 7th November 2008 - copyright Christian Nunes

(photo IDs: 2332-2334)

(See also: Slate-coloured Junco x Oregon Junco, Oregon Junco x Pink-sided Junco, Pink-sided Junco x White-winged Junco, Grey-headed Junco x Red-backed Junco)
 


Dark-eyed Junco Junco hyemalis 
'Pink-sided Junco' Junco hyemalis mearnsi-group 
'Grey-headed Junco' Junco hyemalis caniceps-group