Bird Hybrids

A collaborative project aiming to improve understanding of bird hybrids.

[Bird Hybrids @BirdHybrids]

Many former followers have already abandoned X and fled to BlueSky but clearly the rest of you are still on this sinking ship because there is no Bird Hybrids at Bsky. Well I have some good news: there is now a Bsky Bird Hybrids feed! Come and join us: https://t.co/xPSNogtqAw

[Bird Hybrids @BirdHybrids]

If like me you no longer wish to support a platform that enables harm and divison, please come and join me at Bluesky and follow the #HybridBirds feed for all the best news on hybrid birds. (2/2)

[Bird Hybrids @BirdHybrids]

I have not posted here for a while and will not do so while X continues to embrace racism, misogyny, and rampant disinformation. X's purpose is now to serve its owner's political and personal agenda and its values are wholly incompatible with my own. (1/2)

[Bird Hybrids @BirdHybrids]

@MikeMoxon2 @bradinho8 Yeah, Mike’s right - call ducks, which are domestic variants of Mallard, are much smaller, shorter-billed and squeakier than natural wild Mallards. Domestic variants of Mallard come in all shapes and sizes and colours!

[Bird Hybrids @BirdHybrids]

Well this is niche. Cinnamon Teal x Eurasian/Green-winged Teal hybrid if I’m not mistaken. I’m not a big beer drinker but I’m quite tempted by this one.

[Duration Brewing | Norfolk, UK @DurationBeer]

TEAL //

The wait is finally over 🤩, get Andy's second instalment of ‘The Duck Series’, Teal, 5.4% Double Dry Hopped Pale Ale. If you loved Mallard, you are sure to love this one too! 🦆

Order before noon for next-day beers fresh to your door 🔗 https://t.co/uHFpfTJQeV

[BirdGuides @BirdGuides]

This summer, a nature reserve in France has seen its third case of hybridisation between Grey Heron and Little Egret since 2018: https://t.co/8RaKZvxcRb

[Bird Hybrids @BirdHybrids]

@_JohnAshburner @fmrib_steve @RareBirdAlertUK @_BTO Yes, the only anomaly for Canada Goose seems to be pure white at the front of the head so leucism seems the most likely solution. A hybrid would show mixed characters of two species, not simply something odd for one species.

[GPC @GPCbirding]

silly crops of distant bird but size almost same as Little, bill too thin and long, jowl Cattle - but presumably a Cattle x Little hybrid? Alkborough Flats last two days - feeds in water with Littles?

[Bird Hybrids @BirdHybrids]

…you’ve seen anything weird purporting to be from me. I’ve changed my password and it all seems to be back to normal now. Even so, I’m increasingly uncomfortable with the direction Musk is taking X so will post less here (try BlueSky for a great alternative). (2 of 2)

[Bird Hybrids @BirdHybrids]

Apologies for the recent inactivity here. Some strange things have been going on here with constant notifications of DMs but no DM. Not sure if the account was hacked and someone was sending/receiving messages on my behalf then deleting them or what, so apologies if… (1 of 2)

[Bird Hybrids @BirdHybrids]

@Lophophanes @Davedack81 Yes, structurally it does recall Muscovy, though some domestic Mallards can approach this. From these photos I’m not sure I can rule out pure (juv?) domestic Muscovy but it may well be a hybrid with domestic Mallard.

[BirdGuides @BirdGuides]

The vagrant American Black Tern in Northumberland has paired up with a male Arctic Tern and is currently sitting on eggs, marking a most unlikely case of hybridisation between the two species: https://t.co/ri0V9ZMuV7

[Bird Hybrids @BirdHybrids]

Looks like it’s in partial eclipse now…

[Owen Beaumont @OwenBeaumont1]

The clear highlight of the trip up North was, of course, the bizarre Mallard x Eider hybrid in Seahouses Harbour @BirdHybrids

[Bird Hybrids @BirdHybrids]

@SwannerySteve @AndyWarr3 @pmandrews1973 @WorcsBirding @Clifton_Pits Yes, I agree, this looks like Mallard x Muscovy hybrid to me.

[Bird Hybrids @BirdHybrids]

@garethje60 They’re domestic variants of Mallard, not hybrids in the sense of two different species being involved. The small short-billed breeds are often called Call Ducks

[British Birds @britishbirds]

In the latest BB, two classic short papers. 'Apparent Blackbird x Fieldfare hybrid' by Paul J. Willoughby and 'Presumed Common Eider x Mallard hybrid' in Northumberland by Phil Palmer
➡️https://t.co/xhEWJoetug
➡️https://t.co/nnU6X9Xo7f
📷Thomas Willoughby
📷Phil Palmer

[Bird Hybrids @BirdHybrids]

Neck shape recalls Great White Egret but can we rule out leucistic Grey Heron? Those is one of those birds that I suspect would be easier in life than from photos.

[Ellie 🌲🌼🦜 @willowarbles]

@BirdHybrids spotted at Sandbank nature reserve, Scotland. Grey heron x Great white egret??

[Bird Hybrids @BirdHybrids]

@EllieSi14816714 The thing to rule out with these is leucistic Grey Heron and that can sometimes be easier with field views than it is with photos. The shape of the kink in the neck recalls Great White Egret though, so I’d certainly be open to the possibility that it’s the hybrid.