Hi everyone, This morning on our way back to Ithaca, Jessie Barry and I stopped at the Montezuma NWR Visitor Center. We saw what may be my first lifer in New York, a hybrid BLUE-WINGED TEAL X NORTHERN SHOVELER. This was certainly one of the more spectacular birds that we have seen recently and certainly worth a look if have a chance. The entire time it was with a group of drake Northern Shovelers with a lone female shoveler. I have posted several photos to Flickr and posted some comments as well. Overall, the bird appears more shoveler-like and may recall a transitional plumage male in early winter. Note, however the Blue-winged Teal breast color with spotting that continues onto the flanks, smaller bill, intermediate almost reddish eye color, white crescent on the side of the face etc. Behavior was very similar to Northern Shoveler, including courtship displays to the female.
We also saw a hybrid/intergrade COMMON TEAL X AMERICAN GREEN-WINGED TEAL. I posted several photos of this bird as well, also with comments on things to look for. It was interesting to see how horizontal line all but disappears in flight. Both birds were still present when we left around 7:40am. Photos here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/pinicola/ There are also some photos of a few other highlights that we found in Monroe County over the weekend including Western Willet, Eared Grebe and Orange-crowned Warbler. Good birding, Chris Wood eBird & Neotropical Birds Project Leader Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York http://ebird.org http://neotropical.birds.cornell.edu -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
