Tag: hybrid
Yesterday I Got A Brand New Yardbird
I wasn’t planning on posting to my blog today but how could I not after unexpectedly getting sharp photos of a pretty spectacular bird species new to my yard. Possibly new to the entire state of Utah. (4 photos)
A Goose Of A Different Feather
I see hybrid wild ducks fairly often in the field but a hybrid Canada Goose was a new experience for me.
Mallards Mating And Fighting
Some Very Odd-looking Pheasants
Ring-necked Pheasants are relatively common in my area and I normally see very little variation in plumage color in them – males look like males, females look like females and that’s about it. But twice I’ve photographed some very strange-looking birds.
Bathing Cinnamon Teal/Green-winged Teal hybrid
Though bathing is a common activity for waterfowl it can make for some interesting photographs. I found this bird at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge at the end of May last year. Cinnamon Teal x Green-winged Teal Hybrid male While I was processing some of the images I noticed the unusual crescent-shaped marking running through the eye to the back of the head that is typical of the Green-winged Teal. I asked several very knowledgeable birders about this bird and they think this is a CT/GWT hybrid, which apparently is quite unusual. Red eye looking at you through a layer of water While bathing he would repeatedly dunk his head and shoulders under water and then lift them up, which would roll water over its back and wings. An interesting process to watch and photograph at such close range. Here he’s looking at me through a layer of water over his head and eye as he brings his head out of the water. Forcing water over the back Here’s the water on the back. Washing the back feathers Then he would shake vigorously which would wash the back and upper wing feathers and send water droplets flying. Rearranging the wing feathers After so much vigorous activity the feathers, particularly those in the wing, needed rearranging to put them in their proper places. Preening after the bath Then came the preening. Lots of it. Here he is grooming individual breast/lower neck feathers. After the bath And here…
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Yesterday I Got A Brand New Yardbird
I wasn’t planning on posting to my blog today but how could I not after unexpectedly getting sharp photos of a pretty spectacular bird species new to my yard. Possibly new to the entire state of Utah. (4 photos)
A Goose Of A Different Feather
I see hybrid wild ducks fairly often in the field but a hybrid Canada Goose was a new experience for me.
Mallards Mating And Fighting
Some Very Odd-looking Pheasants
Ring-necked Pheasants are relatively common in my area and I normally see very little variation in plumage color in them – males look like males, females look like females and that’s about it. But twice I’ve photographed some very strange-looking birds.
Bathing Cinnamon Teal/Green-winged Teal hybrid
Though bathing is a common activity for waterfowl it can make for some interesting photographs. I found this bird at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge at the end of May last year. Cinnamon Teal x Green-winged Teal Hybrid male While I was processing some of the images I noticed the unusual crescent-shaped marking running through the eye to the back of the head that is typical of the Green-winged Teal. I asked several very knowledgeable birders about this bird and they think this is a CT/GWT hybrid, which apparently is quite unusual. Red eye looking at you through a layer of water While bathing he would repeatedly dunk his head and shoulders under water and then lift them up, which would roll water over its back and wings. An interesting process to watch and photograph at such close range. Here he’s looking at me through a layer of water over his head and eye as he brings his head out of the water. Forcing water over the back Here’s the water on the back. Washing the back feathers Then he would shake vigorously which would wash the back and upper wing feathers and send water droplets flying. Rearranging the wing feathers After so much vigorous activity the feathers, particularly those in the wing, needed rearranging to put them in their proper places. Preening after the bath Then came the preening. Lots of it. Here he is grooming individual breast/lower neck feathers. After the bath And here…