American Wigeon x Northern Shoveler

American Wigeon x Northern Shoveler hybrid, Firestone Gravel Pits, Weld County (Colorado, USA), 17th May 2015 - copyright Steve Mlodinow

(photo ID: 2254)

This seems to be quite a rare hybrid - not only is it our first here but Steve tells us that it was also not an available selection on eBird.  For American Wigeon Steve draws attention to the green head band, the buff chest and the blue on the bill (and I think the white on the upper wing-coverts may also point to Wigeon involvement).  For Shoveler Steve points to the bill shape, the deep orange sides and the grey upper wing-coverts.

American Wigeon x Northern Shoveler hybrid (same bird as in photo ID 2254 above), Firestone Gravel Pits, Weld County (Colorado, USA), 17th May 2015 - copyright Steve Mlodinow

(photo IDs: 2252-2253)

American Wigeon Anas americana
Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata

Eurasian Wigeon x American Wigeon

Eurasian Wigeon x American Wigeon hybrid, Swallows Park, Clarkston, Asotin County (Washington, USA), 15th January 2015 - copyright Keith Carlson

(photo ID: 2028)

Vagrant American Wigeons turn up regularly among the Wigeon flocks in western Europe and hybrids between the two species appear from time to time.  A similar situation occurs in east Asia, while the mirror situation occurs with Eurasian Wigeon turning up among American flocks in east and west North America (especially in the Pacific north-west, I understand).

The first series of photos here show what is assumed to be the same bird returning each winter for at least 9 consecutive years.

Eurasian Wigeon x American Wigeon hybrid, Swallows Park, Clarkston, Asotin County (Washington, USA), 21st December 2007 - copyright Keith Carlson

(photo ID: 2018)

Eurasian Wigeon x American Wigeon hybrid, Swallows Park, Clarkston, Asotin County (Washington, USA), 11th January 2008 - copyright Keith Carlson

(photo ID: 2019)

Eurasian Wigeon x American Wigeon hybrid, Swallows Park, Clarkston, Asotin County (Washington, USA), 14th January 2009 - copyright Keith Carlson

(photo ID: 2020)

Eurasian Wigeon x American Wigeon hybrid, Swallows Park, Clarkston, Asotin County (Washington, USA), 5th December 2009 - copyright Keith Carlson

(photo IDs: 2021-2022)

Eurasian Wigeon x American Wigeon hybrid, Swallows Park, Clarkston, Asotin County (Washington, USA), 7th January 2010 - copyright Keith Carlson

(photo ID: 2023)

Eurasian Wigeon x American Wigeon hybrid, Swallows Park, Clarkston, Asotin County (Washington, USA), 6th December 2010 - copyright Keith Carlson

(photo ID: 2024)

Eurasian Wigeon x American Wigeon hybrid, Swallows Park, Clarkston, Asotin County (Washington, USA), 29h November 2012 - copyright Keith Carlson

(photo ID: 2025)

Eurasian Wigeon x American Wigeon hybrid, Swallows Park, Clarkston, Asotin County (Washington, USA), 18th December 2012 - copyright Keith Carlson

(photo ID: 2026)

Eurasian Wigeon x American Wigeon hybrid, Swallows Park, Clarkston, Asotin County (Washington, USA), 10th January 2014 - copyright Keith Carlson

(photo ID: 2027)

Eurasian Wigeon x American Wigeon hybrid, Swallows Park, Clarkston, Asotin County (Washington, USA), 15th January 2015 - copyright Keith Carlson

(photo ID: 2029)

Eurasian Wigeon x American Wigeon hybrid, Swallows Park, Clarkston, Asotin County (Washington, USA), 23rd November 2015 - copyright Keith Carlson

(photo ID: 2308)

Steve thinks the dark neck collar and chin may be atypical for this hybrid although it seems to be shown on both of the next birds.  There is quite a bit of variation in Eurasian Wigeon with respect to this feature so perhaps we should expect to see that variation come through in their hybrids?

Eurasian Wigeon x American Wigeon hybrid, Olympia (Washington, USA), 23rd January 2011 - copyright Steve Mlodinow

(photo IDs: 2186-2187)

Eurasian Wigeon x American Wigeon hybrid, Oak Harbor (Washington, USA), 19th December 2009 - copyright Steve Mlodinow

(photo IDs: 2219-2220)

Although this hybrid can occur on the eastern seaboard of North America, in Europe and in eastern Asia, here is another one from the west side of North America where it seems to be most frequently recorded.

Eurasian Wigeon x American Wigeon hybrid (with American Wigeons), Kelowna (British Columbia, Canada), 2nd February 2015 - copyright Ian Walker

(photo ID: 2786)

The next bird was reported as either an American Wigeon or a hybrid but by the time I arrived some people thought it might even be just a weird Eurasian Wigeon.  I can't see that personally, but it does look good for a hybrid.  My only hesitation is over whether Eurasian Wigeon x Chiloe Wigeon can be ruled out.  I would expect a Chiloe hybrid to show more orange tones on the flanks where as this bird showed very American-like deep brownish pink tones - however this may be within range for Eurasian x Chiloe (see the photos we have of that hybrid here, one of which looks rather similar to this bird).  Indeed Joern has also picked up on the possibility of this bird being Eurasian x Chiloe, though he is also uncertain.  He points out the extent of dark on the crown which is not typical of Eurasian x American, though sometimes this hybrid may have some dark in the crown.  Some Eurasian Wigeon can have some dark in the crown too, so this is perhaps not necessarily proof of Chiloe Wigeon influence, but maybe it does point that way.  The fact that my photos aren't good doesn't help!  Worth noting that Wigeon hybrids appear to be fertile so Chiloe Wigeon hybrid backcrossed with Eurasian Wigeon should also be considered.

possible Eurasian Wigeon x American Wigeon hybrid (with Eurasian Wigeon), Cley (Norfolk, UK), 7th February 2015 - copyright Dave Appleton

(photo IDs: 1814-1817)

The next bird seems like a fairly clear-cut hybrid.  Len points out that the pale forehead mark is two-toned.  The base of the bill is faintly outlined in black.  This bird was associating with American Wigeons.

Eurasian Wigeon x American Wigeon hybrid, Gallinas (California, USA), 18th January 2015 - copyright Len Blumin

(photo IDs: 2922-2924)

Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope
American Wigeon Anas americana
Chiloe Wigeon Anas sibilatrix

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

American Wigeon x Redhead

captive intersex female American Wigeon x Redhead hybrid, Skagit County (Washington, USA), 25th December 2009 - copyright Steve Mlodinow

(photo ID: 1539)

 
Steve tells us that this bird was paired with a male Redhead.  Intersexes (females developing male characteristics) seem to be much more frequent among hybrids than pure birds.

 captive intersex female American Wigeon x Redhead hybrid (with Redhead; same bird as in photo ID 1539, above), Skagit County (Washington, USA), 30th November 2008 - copyright Steve Mlodinow

(photo IDs: 1483-1484)

American Wigeon Anas americana
Redhead Aythya americana

Gadwall x American Wigeon

captive Gadwall x American Wigeon hybrid, Skagit County (Washington, USA), 10th December 2005 - copyright Steve Mlodinow

(photo ID: 1538)

This hybrid is not very dissimilar to Gadwall x Eurasian Wigeon, but that hybrid tends to be greyer on the flanks and scapulars - on this bird the flanks show the vinous pink colour typical o male American Wigeon.  Joern has pointed out that both can show a different head pattern, with a pale front.



Gadwall Anas strepera
American Wigeon Anas americana

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

American Wigeon x Mallard

American Wigeon x Mallard hybrid, San Antonio (Texas, USA), 30th January 2016 - copyright Patty Bruno

(photo ID: 2733)

The first bird featured here is rather different from the dark-headed and more Mallard-like birds that make up the majority of birds on this page, but it seems to be a regular type for this hybrid.  The pale cheeks represent Wigeon influence but the breast is very Mallard.  The length of the tail may reflect American Wigeon but the curve in the central feathers is inherited from Mallard.  The bill is more Wigeon-like, and notice how there is a pinkish hint to it.  This seems to be a common feature in many Wigeon hybrids (not just American Wigeon) when neither parent has a pinkish bill.

The Mallard influence in the next bird is pretty obvious, though the depth of colour in the breast is less than in many Mallard x Wigeon hybrids.  The partly-curled central tail coverts are typical of Mallard hybrids. The wing-coverts (especially the median & greaters) look quite whitish which suggests a Wigeon species rather than e.g. a Teal, although they are not as white as in some examples of this hybrid.  The vinous brown tones on the scapulars and to a slight extent on the flanks suggest American Wigeon over Eurasian Wigeon, but of course that is to be expected anyway given the location.

 American Wigeon x Mallard hybrid, Aurora (Colorado, USA), 24th February 2016 - copyright Kenyon Moon

(photo IDs: 2721-2727)

The next bird is more like Patty's at the top of this page:

American Wigeon x Mallard hybrid, Prospect, near Denver (Colorado, USA), 26th January 2007 - copyright Steve Mlodinow

(photo ID: 2218)

Here is another darker-headed bird:

 American Wigeon x Mallard hybrid, Columbia River, near Maryhill (Washington, USA), 14th December 2008 - copyright Steve Mlodinow

(photo IDs: 2216-2217)

This bird is more Mallard-like than these hybrids usually are, which is perhaps best explained by it being a backcross.

probable (American Wigeon x Mallard) x Mallard backcrossed hybrid, near Kersey, Weld County (Colorado, USA), 19th February 2014 - copyright Steve Mlodinow

(photo IDs: 1520-1521)

American Wigeon Anas americana
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos