American x Eurasian Wigeon? American Wigeon? (Drake: Kinmen Island, Taiwan) (1 Viewer)

The reddish tones to the rear eye stripe seem to scream hybrid for this bird!

Aside from this, though, the bird shows none of the traces of hybridisation typically shown by other hybrid drakes (or at least those that have occurred here), e.g. 'solid' (unstreaked) red areas on the face, grey in the flanks, etc. Additionally, structure looks absolutely spot on for American (big head, long tail), and black frame to the bill is reportedly rare in hybrids.

Is this head pattern acceptable variation within American Wigeon, something to do with iridescence, or a clear sign of hybridisation?

Thanks in advance for any thoughts!

Saw two birds looking very similar to this in Japan a few years ago. I think this is a clear hybrid.

Rob

American x Eurasian Wigeon hybrids are pretty variable (see http://birdhybrids.blogspot.co.uk/2015/02/eurasian-wigeon-x-american-wigeon.html for a few examples) but most of those I can find seem to be closer to Eurasian than American in flank colour, whereas this one is closer to American... the head pattern does seem hybrid to me though. As wigeon hybrids are fertile, maybe this one could be a backcross (3/4 American, 1/4 Eurasian)?

stevethehydra said:

American x Eurasian Wigeon hybrids are pretty variable (see http://birdhybrids.blogspot.co.uk/2015/02/eurasian-wigeon-x-american-wigeon.html for a few examples) but most of those I can find seem to be closer to Eurasian than American in flank colour, whereas this one is closer to American... the head pattern does seem hybrid to me though. As wigeon hybrids are fertile, maybe this one could be a backcross (3/4 American, 1/4 Eurasian)?

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Quite possibly. I would guess survival rates among hybrids are quite high so plenty of opportunity to dip their toes in the gene pool...

Rob

stevethehydra said:

American x Eurasian Wigeon hybrids are pretty variable (see http://birdhybrids.blogspot.co.uk/2015/02/eurasian-wigeon-x-american-wigeon.html for a few examples) but most of those I can find seem to be closer to Eurasian than American in flank colour, whereas this one is closer to American... the head pattern does seem hybrid to me though. As wigeon hybrids are fertile, maybe this one could be a backcross (3/4 American, 1/4 Eurasian)?

Click to expand...

Thanks for the comments. Whatever this is, it is certainly much closer to American than Eurasian, especially so in terms of relative head 'bulk' and 'Pintail-like' rear end. Other than the head stripe, so is the remainder of the plumage (streaked face, dark chin, shape/extent of pale of forehead/crown, black bill surround, pink back, entirely pink flanks, etc). A case of almost, but not quite, it seems!