Blue-winged Teal or hybrid?, Worcs, Uk (1 Viewer)

[Phil Andrews]

Worcestershire birders would be grateful for any informed views - particularly from the other side of the pond - as to whether this bird is within the bounds of variation (acceptability) of Blue-winged Teal or if, as suspected, its a hybrid (and if so, what the likely parentage is.

http://grimleybirding.co.uk/blue-winged_teal_hybrid_grimley_worcestershire_23.html

Many thanks
Phil

 

[Phil Andrews]

Over a hundred views and no comments? :-C

 

[Andy Hurley]

have you ruled out late summer eclipse male? see here

 

[Phil Andrews]

LGRE's thoughts: http://uk400clubrarebirdalert.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/yet-another-blue-winged-teal-hybrid.html

 

[lewis20126]

My thoughts FTW is that this is likely a BWT x Shoveler, based on the bill size and shape alone - surely a BWT would not have those extended lateral expansions? Image 11/15 on LGRE's link is the one which does it for me. I haven't looked closely at plumage details but it doesn't look that far off a BWT. This is not a rare hybrid and a number of years ago there was an elusive male with this parentage at Blashford Lakes. Good luck with seeking more informed views.

cheers, alan

 

[DarkFireFalcon]

I've little experience with hybrid Blue-winged Teal by shovelers, but I'm wondering why it isn't merely a female Cinnamon Teal? The bill certainly fits a Cinnamon Teal, which do have very shoveler-like bills.

 

[Brian Stretch]

Thanks for the feedback guys.

Cinnamon Teal was considered but I felt the head pattern was too well marked for this species. I guess it is a BWT x Shoveler but given its size, iris colour and face pattern makes me consider that it is about as close to BWT as you can get without it actually being one.

When viewed in sunny conditions the iris colour is a very deep maroon and when feeding along side Common Teal it appears longer in the body and a little bulkier, about Garganey size but certainly no larger.

Brian
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[Brian Stretch]

A few more pics added here.

Brian
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[DarkFireFalcon]

Sorry to bump this back up, but after seeing the new pictures, I agree that a hybrid does seem to be the best fit. That bill is huge, far wider than I've ever seen on a pure Blue-winged Teal, and it looks awfully pale too.