Mallard x Northern Pintail ?

hakristi · **Posted:** Mar 19 12:54 am

I found this duck at Reifel (Westham Island). It has head form, bill form and color, and the longer tail feather like a Northern Pintail, but the head and neck color, and yellow legs are Mallard like

Mallard and Pintail hybrid ???

Birder2000 · **Joined:** Jul 17 7:29 pm **Posts:** 588

I believe that you are right!

Hoss · **Joined:** Jan 17 5:43 pm **Posts:** 64

Precisely,
There has been an extremely similar bird in beacon hill park in Victoria this winter, as well there has been an American Wigeon X Mallard male at Beacon Hill with a green and cream flecked head, a blueish bill and a build reminiscent of both parents. I assume these hybrids probably occurred naturally, but many hybrid waterfowl I've discovered this year appear to be crosses between Native and domestic species. I've spotted a Canada goose X Chinese Swan Goose in Central Saanich which may have been a farmer's project but it might have occurred while a Canada goose was making a pit stop in somebody's farm.
These hybrids are very cool and refreshingly puzzling, keep them coming.

esle9 · **Posted:** Mar 19 9:52 am

Nice find! I think hybrids are very interesting. I've seen other photos of male mallard x pintail hybrids that look identical, its cool how even though they are hybrids, they have predictable appearances.

featherjoy · **Posted:** Apr 07 7:48 pm

That is just too cool! thanks for sharing the photo.

Mallard x Northern Pintail ?

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