American or Hybrid Wigeon - Kirkwall, Orkney - 10 October 2017 (1 Viewer)

Paul Chapman · Oct 11, 2017

We were heading for our flight so could give this bird only a cursory glance. It did not feel right. I'll look more closely at pictures and try and articulate our concerns but could the rufous in the flanks and the lack of green in the head pattern be a sign of a bird coming out of the eclipse after all?

It was seen around 9.45am from the Police Station distantly on the Peedie Sea/Model Yacht Lake with a handful of Eurasian Wigeon.

Many thanks for all views and opinions

All the best

Paul

Jeff Hopkins · Oct 11, 2017

Doesn't look like a pure American. Way too much rufous on the crown and in the face.

Can't speak to hybrid or eclipse Eurasian.

stevethehydra · Oct 11, 2017

Looks pretty similar to a lot of these hybrids: http://birdhybrids.blogspot.co.uk/2015/02/eurasian-wigeon-x-american-wigeon.html

Stuart Darbyshire · Oct 11, 2017

Interesting bird - not easy to see in the pictures, but the rear flanks look greyish, head too many rufous tones and cheek more buff than grey. Get a number of Am/Eu hybrids (3-4 birds per year) in the Wigeon flocks near me - this looks like one to me

Paul Higson · Oct 13, 2017

This will be the Wigeon/American Wigeon hybrid thats been on the Peedie Sea, Kirkwall for the past couple of winters.

They come over here . . . .

American or Hybrid Wigeon - Kirkwall, Orkney - 10 October 2017 (1 Viewer)

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Paul Chapman

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Jeff Hopkins

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Stuart Darbyshire

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