Mallard x American Wigeon Hybrid

[Reuven_M]

Found this guy at Col. Sam's this moring, more info in this thread: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=12193

[Brian Bailey]

I saw it today as well.  Looking back in my archives, I'm wondering if it's the same bird I saw there 3 years ago:

I don't know how long they live in the wild, but the markings are virtually identical.  (This image is from April 2010.  I only got some poor quality cellphone shots today.)

BB

[Reuven_M]

I put a bit more detailed info on my blog, but I'm convinced it's the same bird, as it was also seen in 2009, 2011 and 2012 plus now your sighting from 2010. I'm a bit surprised nobody seems to have made the connection until now. What date was your photo in 2010? A very similar bird was seen near Detroit April 5, 2010.

[Brian Bailey]

This photo was taken on April 19, 2010.  Looking at other photos from that day, it was closely associating with a normal looking female Mallard.

BB

[Brian Bailey]

He's back!  I was just sent some photos of what appears to be the same bird.  The photos were taken today at the pond at Sam Smith Park.

BB

[Bluffs Birder]

He's been around for a couple of weeks now, below is a photo I took back in late February.  Here's a couple of my photos of what appears to be the same bird.

2011/03/15 - The Pond, Colonel Sam Smith Park, Toronto (Etobicoke)


2014/02/25 - Lake Ontario, Cliff Lumsden Park, Toronto (Etobicoke)


Walter

[Henrique Pacheco]

Isn't this a Mallard x Pintail? The back of the body has more of a pintail appearance and the bill is oddly colored.

[Henrique Pacheco]

Actually, I think you're right. I looked up pictures  

[Rotarran]

I took this picture on April 30, 2013 at CSSP

[Brian Bailey]

Isn't this a Mallard x Pintail? The back of the body has more of a pintail appearance and the bill is oddly colored.

That was what I thought the first time I saw him.  I was skeptical of the Mallard X Wigeon ID at first, but it appears to be a well documented plumage.

BB

[jameshelmer]

I saw this bird last year while doing my 'big year', its an interesting hybrid and I never followed up on any further investigation to its origin, it's cool to see the documentation of photographs from years prior!