[birding] Pintail by Teal hybrid, 7 Jan

[Douglas Robinson]

At Philomath STP this morning there was a male Northern Pintail by Teal
hybrid. The body was patterned like the body of a pintail, but a bit smaller
and with a bit shorter tail.  The head was all brownish-red (no white stripe
like pintail has), but had paler patches in the pattern of a Baikal Teal.
That caught my attention. But, in reading a little about this, it appears
that pintail by teal hybrids frequently show a Baikal-like facial pattern,
even when one of the parents was not a Baikal Teal.  Very interesting
looking bird, and a hybrid combination of which I was unaware.

Have fun
Doug
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