Wierd Wigeon Hybrid (1 Viewer)

[Egret]

Seen today at Irvine, Scotland with large flock of Wigeon. We are favouring Wigeon x Wood Duck but also considered Wigeon x Teal.
The bird is the size of a Wigeon.

Pleased to know what others think.

Andy

p.s. apologies for quality of image; digiscope amateurs!

 

[Stephen Dunstan]

I think I would favour Wigeon x Teal over Wigeon x Wood Duck.

Stephen

 

[Archie Opteryx]

Am guessing the Teal is the female in this combo??

 

[Cheshire Birder]

Eurasian x Chiloe Wigeon hybrid maybe?

CB

 

[Adam W]

Looks to have more than a hint of male Teal to me. Wigeon X Teal for me.

 

[cameron2]

wigeon x teal for me too

 

[Tib78]

First impression was wigeon x Wood duck.

The shape of the bill base, hint of black spur between the flank and the chest, crested appearance even at rest and the tail shape strongly suggest Wood duck to me.
Also the lack of vermiculation on the flank would be weird for wigeon x teal.

 

[Stephen Dunstan]

I guess the face does look a bit like this:

http://www.taxidermy.net/forum/index.php?topic=246317.0

Though the upperparts are rather different.

The link was interesting, had no idea people put down ducks to sell the specimens.

Stephen

 

[cameron2]

wow, i learnt something today: there's a website called taxidermy.net

Bird forum is helpful after all

 

[lou salomon]

anybody PM-ing jörn lehmhus or dave appleton as these are far from easy. even the involvement of wigeon to me seems questionable - might pintail be an option instead of wigeon?

 

[Joern Lehmhus]

I think we can savely exclude Wigeon x Teal. though these are varable, i have never seen a head pattern like this in any of those .


compare some here :
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xo9EQm1h3_g/T1ZAxSD3OrI/AAAAAAAABmc/sLAxTUv5CYQ/s1600/Image-1.jpg

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/217/photo046fl7.jpg/

you see teal head pattern is very much retained in these.



the head pattern, bill shape and pattern as well as the black spot on the flank of the odd bird let me think wood duck hybrid. As the scapuars do not seem black, with one of the northern wigeons.

 

[Egret]

Hi Folks

Thanks for all the interesting replies. In the end I am just going to call it "interesting". I am also going to use it in my RSPB group's Xmas ID quiz.

Andy

 

[Joern Lehmhus]

any more shots, even if they are bad? some shots showing flanks and tail length and structure as well as the tertials may help.

some pictures chiloe wigeon x wood duck (not your hybrid but they show the shape):
http://cdn.backyardchickens.com/1/1f/350x700px-LL-1fd6267c_ChiloeWidgeon_X_Woodie.jpeg

http://www.harteman.nl/files/Aix_sponsa_X_Anas_sibilatrix_02.jpg