Bird Hybrids: Rosy-billed Pochard

Wednesday, 18 June 2014

Red-crested Pochard x Rosy-billed Pochard

No photos here yet for this hybrid, but Joern Lehmhus has written about them in the German magazine Aves. The text is in German but non-German speakers may still be interested as it's accompanied by a couple of photos of Red-crested Pochard x Rosy-billed Pochard hybrids. You can access the PDF of Aves 4 (2013) - the article starts on page 21 with section 2.5 on this hybrid beginning at page 25 - the five photos captioned "Peposakaente x Kolbenente" are Red-crested Pochard x Rosy-billed Pochard hybrids (and I think the sixth one captioned "Wahrscheinliche Rückkreuzung eines Hybriden Peposakaente x Kolbenente mit der Kolbenente" translates to "probable backcrossed hybrid (Red-crested Pochard x Rosy-billed Pochard) x Red-crested Pochard)".

If you have any photos of this or other hybrids that you would be happy for us to use here, please get in touch (either leave a comment or email).

Red-crested Pochard Netta rufina
Rosy-billed Pochard Netta peposaca

Saturday, 19 April 2014

Rosy-billed Pochard x Common Pochard

captive probable Rosy-billed Pochard x Common Pochard hybrid, Blakeney Collection, 18th January 2004 - copyright Dave Appleton

(photo ID: 0412)

Not being familiar with Rosybill at the time I took these photos I assumed that's what they were, but Joern subsequently pointed out that there are some anomalies for pure Rosybill. Most obviously the back is too pale, but I think the knob at the base of the bill is also a little subdued and there is perhaps a little too much black on the tip of the bill. Common Pochard seems the most likely second parent, supported by the appearance of the female (scroll down for more on that).