Possible male Blue-winged Teal x Northern Shoveler Hybrid - Los Angeles, CA, USA (1 Viewer)

AlexC

Aves en Los Ángeles

Opus Editor

• Jan 13, 2014

• #1

Hopefully more photos coming by email from a guy with a much better telephoto lens I met at Sepulveda Basin.

White crescent, huge honker, bright ORANGE feet seen (a bit visible in photos), intermediate plumage. What do you guys think?

EDITED: To add addition photo, and include date: Jan 12th, 2014

 

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Last edited: Jan 13, 2014

njlarsen

Gallery Moderator

Opus Editor

Supporter

• Jan 13, 2014

• #2

Certainly looks like a good candidate to me, however, I am in no way an expert on hybrids

Niels

 

S

stevethehydra

Well-known member

• Jan 13, 2014

• #3

Compare to this: http://www.flickr.com/photos/14195020@N08/2949355580/ - is Australian Shoveler kept much in captivity in California?

 

jmepler

It's just a flesh wound.

• Jan 13, 2014

• #4

What about a late first-fall male Northern Shoveler?

Mike

 

S

stevethehydra

Well-known member

• Jan 13, 2014

• #5

jmepler said:

What about a late first-fall male Northern Shoveler?

Mike

Click to expand...

The white facial crescent rules out any plumage of pure Northern Shoveler.

 

jmepler

It's just a flesh wound.

• Jan 13, 2014

• #6

stevethehydra said:

The white facial crescent rules out any plumage of pure Northern Shoveler.

Click to expand...

First-fall males can show a significant crescent.

I had a breeding plumage male that showed a pretty good crescent as well. It was discussed at this link.

 

AlexC

Aves en Los Ángeles

Opus Editor

• Jan 13, 2014

• #7

jmepler said:

First-fall males can show a significant crescent.

I had a breeding plumage male that showed a pretty good crescent as well. It was discussed at this link.

Click to expand...

I considered it but January seems very late, no?

Here's the full set of my photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/114251924@N02/sets/72157639710995154/ - you can see it Full Res once looking at a photo, right-click and select "Original" and it will blow up to biggest size.

 

F

fugl

Well-known member

• Jan 13, 2014

• #8

First-winter male shoveler in transitional first basic/first alternate plumage was my thought also. I saw several such birds at one of the local lakes today. Appearance varied considerably, though I didn't notice any face crescents.

 

Last edited: Jan 14, 2014

jmepler

It's just a flesh wound.

• Jan 13, 2014

• #9

According to Sibley they should be in breeding plumage in December. So it would be late but not extremely so.

 

lou salomon

the birdonist

• Jan 13, 2014

• #10

jmepler said:

First-fall males can show a significant crescent.

Click to expand...

agree with this. i don't see any blue-winged teal involvement. a late developing 1st winter male northern shoveler.

 

T

Tideliner

Well-known member

• Jan 13, 2014

• #11

I saw 5 similar shovllers yesterday with the pale cresent on their face. They alsohad bright orange legs and similar body plumage. They were all 1st winter male common shovllers. and I have little doubt the above bird is too. 1st year shoveeers can be very late comming into plumage and a few do not manage it until their second breeding season.

 

B

BGVI

Active member

• Jan 13, 2014

• #12

stevethehydra said:

Compare to this: http://www.flickr.com/photos/14195020@N08/2949355580/ - is Australian Shoveler kept much in captivity in California?

Click to expand...

Australasian was the first thing that came to mind for me too. although size of the bird is important . the Australasian being smaller than the northern.

 

chris butterworth

aka The Person Named Above

• Jan 13, 2014

• #13

1st W Northern Shoveler. Looking at the size difference between the bird in question and the Green-winged Teal in #3 I think Australian Shoveler can be ruled out.

Chris

 

AlexC

Aves en Los Ángeles

Opus Editor

• Jan 14, 2014

• #14

Thanks, guys!