Hybrids

Some examples and basic information on some of the wide array of hybrid birds recorded in the Great Lakes region: 

Waterfowl

• Snow Goose x Ross's Goose

  • There is little consensus on how common this hybrid is - due to perceived limits of variation in both Snow Goose and Ross's Goose (especially juveniles). Some presumed examples include Indiana in Dec 2018, Ontario in Nov 2015, New York in Mar 2022, Ontario in Nov 2022

• Snow Goose x Greater White-fronted Goose

  • Some examples from Indiana in Dec 2022, Illinois in Dec 2019, Illinois in Feb 2018, Wisconsin in Mar 2023, 

• Snow Goose x Canada Goose 

  • Some examples from Illinois in Feb 2020, Ohio in Jan 2017, Ontario in Oct 2021, New York in Feb 2019, 

• Snow Goose x Cackling Goose

  • Some examples from Ontario in Mar 2023, Ontario in Jan 2024, 

• Ross's Goose x Cackling Goose 

  • A well documented bird from Michigan in Mar 2011

• Greater White-fronted Goose x Canada Goose 

  • Some examples from Ontario in Jan 2017, New York in Mar 2022, Ontario in Feb 2012, 

• Greater White-fronted Goose x Cackling Goose 

  • Some examples from Indiana in Feb 2020, Illinois in Jan 2019, 

• Barnacle Goose x Canada Goose

  • Some examples from Pennsylvania in Jan 2024, New York in Jan 2019, 

• Barnacle Goose x Cackling Goose

  • Some examples from Indiana in January 2018, Ontario in Oct 2023, New York in Mar 2021, New York in Nov 2017 

• Mute Swan x Trumpeter Swan 

  • Adult pairing have been reported in Ontario but no media of hybrid offspring is currently online

• Tundra Swan x Trumpeter Swan 

  • A candidate from New York in May 2016

• "Bewick's" Tundra Swan x "Whistling" Tundra Swan 

• • • A detailed observation from Ontario in Mar 2020

• Blue-winged Teal x Cinnamon Teal 

  • Rare but regular to the west, very rare further east - a variety of males have been photographed in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Illinois

• Cinnamon/Blue-winged Teal x Garganey 

  • A possible male from Ontario in Apr 2019

• Blue-winged Teal x Northern Shoveler

  • Examples of males from Michigan in Apr 2018, New York in May 2011, Michigan in Nov 2022, and females from New York in Mar 2021, Illinois in Mar 2024 and Ontario in Oct 2022

• Cinnamon Teal x Northern Shoveler

  • Adult males from Ontario in Apr 2023, Ohio in Jan 2023

• Northern Shoveler x Gadwall

  • Some examples from Michigan in Apr 2021, Michigan in Apr 2022, Illinois in Mar 2024 and Wisconsin in Apr 2015 

• Gadwall x American Wigeon 

  • Some examples of males from New York in Apr 2013, Illinois in Oct 2014 and Ontario in Oct 2019, 

• Eurasian Wigeon x American Wigeon 

  • Rare but regular, some examples of males from Ontario in Apr 2021, Ohio in Feb 2020, New York in Mar 2009, New York in Mar 2007, 

  • A possible female from Ontario in Jan 2013

• Wood Duck x Mallard

  • Some occurrences online may be with domestic Mallards - possibly wild birds include a male from Ontario in Oct 2022, and Indiana in Mar 2019

• Wood Duck x Ring-necked Duck 

  • A probable Wood Duck x Ring-necked Duck in Ontario, Jun 1986 (scroll down)

• Northern Shoveler x Mallard 

  • A possible female from Ontario in Oct 2019

  • There is a surprising lack of adult male hybrids reported in the region

• Gadwall x Mallard 

  • AKA "Brewer's Duck", some examples of males from Ontario in Apr 2017, Ontario in Jan 2021, Ontario in Jan 2004, Wisconsin in Feb 2022, Illinois in Dec 2013, New York in Feb 2006, 

• American Wigeon x Mallard

  • Some examples of males from Ontario in May 2020, Michigan in Jan 2014, New York in Mar 2019, Ontario in Nov 2020

  • Some female examples from Illinois in Oct 2019, Ontario in Mar 2022, 

• American Wigeon x American Black Duck 

  • Possible female, or perhaps ABDUxGWTE, from Ontario in Jan 2024

• Mallard x American Black Duck 

  • Regular in low numbers. Significant variation in plumage, with multiple generations of mixing possible. Some unvetted reference photos from Ontario are available here

  • Beware domestic Mallards and eclipse male Mallards - both of which are regularly posted as ABDUxMALL hybrids 

• Mottled Duck x Mexican Duck

  • A possible female from Wisconsin in Feb 2018 - hard to rule out Mottled Duck x Mallard

• American Wigeon x Northern Pintail 

  • A male from Pennsylvania in Mar 2022

• Mallard x Northern Pintail

  • Some examples of males from Ohio in Mar 2020, Wisconsin in Nov 2018, New York in Mar 2015, Ontario in Dec 2003, Ontario in Jan 2022, Ontario in Feb 2022, 

  • A well documented female from Wisconsin in Feb 2019, 

• Gadwall x Northern Pintail 

  • Some examples of males from New York in Oct 2018, Ontario in Mar 2019, and Minnesota in Mar 1992

• White-cheeked Pintail x Northern Pintail

  • A bizarre record (wild or captive origin?) from Ontario in Feb 2004

• Gadwall x Green-winged Teal 

  • A well documented male from Ohio in Dec 2013

• American Wigeon x Green-winged Teal

  • An apparent male from Ohio in Apr 2023

• Mallard x Green-winged Teal

  • A well documented male from Pennsylvania in Mar 2023 and a possible bird from Wisconsin in Nov 2022

• Northern Pintail x Green-winged Teal

  • Well documented males from Ontario in Apr 2021 and New York in Mar 2017

• Canvasback x Redhead

  • Some examples of males from Ontario in Jan 2023, New York from Mar 2017, New York in Feb 2021, Ontario in Jan 2022

• Canvasback x Ring-necked Duck 

  • Some examples from Ontario in Feb 2018, Illinois in Mar 2017, 

• Canvasback x Greater (?) Scaup

  • Some examples from New York in Jan 2021, 

• Redhead x Ring-necked Duck 

  • Rare but regular with examples from New York in Feb 2017, New York in Mar 2020, Ontario in Mar 2019, Ontario in Jan 2021

• Redhead x Greater Scaup 

  • Some examples from Ontario in Feb 2018, Ontario in Feb 2021, 

• Ring-necked Duck x Greater Scaup 

  • Some examples from New York in Mar 2022, Ontario in Apr 2022, 

• Tufted Duck x Greater Scaup 

  • Some examples from Ontario in Feb 2023, Ontario in Mar 2020, Ontario in Mar 2022, Ontario in Jan 2018, 

• Redhead x Lesser Scaup 

  • Some examples from Illinois in Jan 2014, Ontario in Jan 2023, New York in Feb 2022, Ontario in Feb 2020

• Ring-necked Duck x Lesser Scaup 

  • Some examples from Michigan in Mar 2015, Ontario in May 2022, 

• Tufted Duck x Lesser Scaup 

  • Some examples from Ontario in Apr 2023, Ontario in Jan 2022, 

• White-winged Scoter x Surf Scoter 

  • A striking adult male from New York in Oct 2016

• Bufflehead x Common Goldeneye 

  • Some examples of males from Minnesota in Feb 2020, Michigan in Mar 2019, Michigan in Apr 2017, Michigan in Mar 2019

  • Young bird from Ontario in Dec 2020

• Common Goldeneye x Barrow's Goldeneye 

  • Uncommon to rare - some examples of: 

    • Males: Ontario in Jan 2018, Ohio in Dec 2020, New York in Mar 2015, 

    • Females: Possible bird from New York in Jan 2015, 

• Wood Duck x Hooded Merganser

  • Likely the same bird in different plumages from Wisconsin in Aug 2013 and Oct 2013

• Bufflehead x Hooded Merganser

  • Reports from the Great Lakes region to date appear to be immature Hooded Mergansers or perhaps immature male Bufflehead.

• Common Goldeneye x Hooded Merganser 

  • Uncommon to rare, some examples of: 

    • Males: Illinois in Feb 2014, Ontario in Dec 2022, Ontario in Mar 2023, Illinois in Jan 2022

    • Young Males: Ontario in Feb 2021 - (same bird as an adult in Feb 2023, here)

    • Females: Ontario in Dec 2020, Ontario in Mar 2021, Michigan in Feb 2018, 

Shorebirds

• Dunlin x White-rumped Sandpiper

  • Photos from Ontario in May 2020, Ontario in Oct 2016 (juv), Ontario in May 2016, Wisconsin in May 2016, Ontario in Jun 2019 (second cycle)

  • Account with two photos from Point Pelee in May 1994 (fresh alternate adult) 

  • Account with two photos from Ontario in August 2008 (worn alternate adult) 

• Ruddy Turnstone x White-rumped Sandpiper (or x Surfbird?) 

  • An exceptional bird from Ontario in May 2023, which was seen soon after at Whitefish Point in Michigan! 

Gulls

• Black-headed Gull x Ring-billed Gull 

  • An adult from New York in Mar 2017

• Laughing Gull x Ring-billed Gull 

  • Examples of adults or near-adults from Indiana in Dec 2016, Michigan in Sep 2008, Illinois in Aug 2009, Indiana in Jul 2022, and Illinois in Mar 2020

• Herring Gull x California Gull

  • An adult from Ontario in February 2005

  • A perplexing record of multiple adults in summer from Chicago, Illinois - observed from 2022-2023

• Herring Gull x Lesser Black-backed Gull 

  • 1CY: from Ontario in Feb 2005, New York in Mar 2016, 

  • 2CY: from Ontario in Mar 2008, 

  • 3CY: from Ontario in Mar 2009, Ohio in Dec 2020, New York in Feb 2021, 

  • Adult: from Ohio in Nov 2022, Ohio in Dec 2019, Ontario in Mar 2018, Ontario in Sep 2023, 

• Herring Gull x Glaucous-winged Gull

• 1CY: from Ontario in Nov 2017 (possible)

• 2CY:

• 3CY: from Ohio in Jan 2018

• Adult: from Ontario in Apr 2022, Michigan in Dec 2020, 

  • See also: An Unusual Herring x Glaucous-winged Gull Hybrid from Ontario (note)

• Herring Gull x Glaucous Gull

  • 1CY: from Illinois in Feb 2019, Ontario in Jan 2021, Ontario in Dec 2008, Ontario in Jan 2008, 

  • 2CY: from Ohio in Jan 2019, Ontario in Jan 2009, Ontario in Mar 2008, Ontario in Mar 2013, 

  • 3CY: from Ontario in Feb 2021, Ontario in Dec 2004, Ontario in Jan 2008, 

  • Adult: from Ontario in Dec 2008, Ohio in Dec 2021, Michigan in Jan 2021, Michigan in Jan 2023, 

• Herring Gull x Great Black-backed Gull 

  • 1CY: from Ontario in Feb 2020, Ontario in May 2006, 

  • 2CY: 

  • 3CY: from Ontario in May 2011, Ontario in Oct 2012, Michigan in Dec 2022, New York in Nov 2015, 

  • Adult: Ontario in Nov 2008, Ontario in Feb 2012, Ontario in Nov 2008, Ontario in Sep 2006, Wisconsin in Feb 2022, New York in Jan 2009, 

• Herring Gull x Kelp Gull

  • Gull Nasty; the long-lived adult hybrid which would wander through Michigan, Indiana and Illinois from 2006-2019

• Glaucous Gull x Great Black-backed Gull 

  • 1CY: from Ontario in Jan 2009, New York in Jan 2017, Ontario in Feb 2024

  • 2CY: from Ontario in Feb 2018, Indiana in Feb 2013, 

  • 3CY: from Ontario in Jan 2019, Ontario in Dec 2018, 

  • Adult: from Ontario in Dec 2019, Wisconsin in Feb 2020, New York in Oct 2011, 

Herons

• Glossy x White-faced Ibis

  • Expected by many yet sporadically documented - some possible birds from Ohio in May 2015, Ohio in May 2015

• Snowy Egret x Little Blue Heron 

  • A well documented bird present in Indiana and Illinois in summer 2021

Diurnial Raptors

• Cooper's Hawk x Northern Goshawk

  • Some examples from Ontario in Jan 2023, Ontario in Nov 2022 and Ontario in Jan 2013

• Red-shouldered Hawk x Red-tailed Hawk 

  • Some examples from Ontario in Jan 2023 (juv), New York in Mar 2021, Ontario in Jan 2019, Michigan in Jul 2017, 

• Red-tailed Hawk x Rough-legged Hawk 

  • Some examples from Ontario in Dec 2020, Ohio in Dec 2019, Ontario in Oct 2018

Owls

• Long-eared Owl x Short-eared Owl

• A Long-eared Owl x Short-eared Owl (Asio otus x A. flammeus) specimen from Ontario (1991) 

Woodpeckers

• Yellow-bellied Sapsucker x Red-naped Sapsucker 

  • See: New York in Nov 2016, also some possible examples from Ontario in Apr 2022, Ontario in May 2010, Michigan in May 2017, Illinois in Apr 2012; it is difficult to understand the limits of variation in YBSA vs. YBSAxRNSA. 

• Yellow-bellied Sapsucker x Red-breasted Sapsucker 

  • A remarkable/possible bird from Minnesota in Sep 2020

• "Red-shafted" Northern Flicker x "Yellow-shafted" Northern Flicker

  • Some examples from Illinois in Nov 2014, Wisconsin in Feb 2019, Minnesota in Dec 2021, Minnesota in Sep 2021

Corvids

• American Crow x Common Raven

  • Successful Hybridization of Common Raven and American Crow (article, scroll down)

    • Further possible CORA x AMCR: 

      • Point Pelee, Ontario - June 2023

      • Huron County, Ontario - April 2020

Flycatchers

• Western Kingbird x Eastern Kingbird

  • Recently fledged birds from southern Ontario in Aug 2011

• Couch's Kingbird x Western Kingbird 

  • A well documented bird from Ohio in Dec 2015 

• Couch's Kingbird? x Scissor-tailed Flycatcher

  • A remarkable bird from New York in Nov 2003

Vireos

• Red-eyed Vireo x Philadelphia Vireo 

  • An article published about a banded individual from Ontario in Sep 2003 - with photos here

• Yellow-throated Vireo x Blue-headed Vireo 

  • A nest building female from New York in May 2021, a nesting male from Ontario in May 2024, 

Chickadees

• Black-capped Chickadee x Carolina Chickadee

  • Some possible hybrids from Ohio in Apr 2022, Ontario in May 2016

Swallows

• Barn Swallow x Cliff Swallow

  • Some examples from Michigan in May 2017, Ohio in Jun 2016, Pennsylvania in Jun 2012, New York in Jul 2011

• ? Rough-winged Swallow x ? Swallow

  • An unexplained individual from Ontario in May 2017

Finches

• American Goldfinch x Pine Siskin

  • A slightly out of area but well documented bird from New York in Dec 2018

Sparrows

• Chipping Sparrow x Clay-coloured Sparrow 

  • Juveniles from New York in Jul 2019 and various birds from Ontario

• Clay-coloured Sparrow x Field Sparrow 

  • A very well documented bird (photos and audio) from Ontario in Jul 2021 (part 2)

• American Tree Sparrow x Fox Sparrow

  • A striking candidate from Ontario in Mar 2024

• White-crowned Sparrow x White-throated Sparrow 

  • Some examples from Apr Ohio and various birds from Ontario

• Dark-eyed Junco x White-throated Sparrow

  • Some examples from Ontario in Apr 2023, Ontario in Oct 2022, Michigan in Apr 2021

• Spotted Towhee x Eastern Towhee

  • Female from Michigan in Oct 2016 and some further examples from Illinois and Minnesota

  • A SPTO-like bird from Ontario in Feb 2011 that was accepted as pure SPTO

Meadowlarks

• Eastern Meadowlark x Western Meadowlark 

  • Photos of hybrid rectrices from 1962 in New York (single page scan) from Laynon et al. 1996

Warblers 

• Golden-winged Warbler x Blue-winged Warbler 

  • Brewster's Warbler 

    • Yellow Front

      • • • from Ontario in 2022, Pennsylvania in 2012, Ontario in 2022, Minnesota in 2012, New York in 2013

    • White Front

      • • • from Pennsylvania in 2018, Ontario in 2021, Ontario in 2021, females may often or always show yellow (?)

  • Lawrence's Warbler

    • • • • from New York in 2021, Michigan in 2022, Pennsylvania in 2016, Pennsylvania in 2023

  • Impure/Introgressed Golden-winged Warbler 

    • • • • from Ontario in 2021, Pennsylvania in 2017, Ontario in 2021, Ohio in 2020, Minnesota in 2018

  • Impure/Introgressed Blue-winged Warbler

    • • • • from Pennsylvania in 2019, Pennsylvania in 2021, Ontario in 2023, Ontario in 2021, Ontario in 2019

  • Notes:

    • Golden-Winged and Blue-Winged Warblers Are 99.97 Percent Alike Genetically

    • Atlas Reporting Guidelines – Blue-winged and Golden-winged Warblers (with song type info)

• Blue-winged Warbler x Prairie Warbler 

  • A well documented male from Michigan in May 2014

• Yellow Warbler x Prairie Warbler 

  • A multi-year territorial bird from Michigan in 2014-2018 - various media available here

• Chestnut-sided Warbler x Black-and-white Warbler

  • Or perhaps BAWW x GWAA/BRWA? - a very well documented bird from Michigan in May 2005

• Chestnut-sided Warbler x Black-throated Blue Warbler 

  • A striking male from Pennsylvania in May 2019

• Orange-crowned Warbler x Nashville Warbler 

  • A bird photographed from Ontario in May 2015

• Nashville x Tennessee Warbler

  • Nashville X Tennessee Warbler from Ontario (written analysis only) - Aug 1994

• Cerulean Warbler x Northern Parula 

  • Multiple well documented individuals from the southern Great Lakes - a sample of media can be seen here

• Magnolia Warbler x American Redstart

  • A well documented bird from Ontario in Sep 2023

• Magnolia Warbler x Chestnut-sided Warbler 

  • A well documented bird from Ontario in May 2014, which included DNA analysis

• Magnolia Warbler x Black-throated Blue Warbler 

  • A well documented bird from Ontario in Jul 2013

• Magnolia Warbler x Yellow-rumped Warbler 

  • Written account from Ontario in May 2014

• Black-throated Gray Warbler x Townsend's Warbler 

  • A remarkable and well documented bird from Ontario in Apr 2012

• Mourning Warbler x Common Yellowthroat 

  • A presumed individual from New York in Jul 2012

Buntings

• Lazuli Bunting x Indigo Bunting 

  • A well documented male from Minnesota in May 2023

  • A territorial bird from Michigan in June 2022

• Rose-breasted Grosbeak x Black-headed Grosbeak

  • A well documented male from Minnesota in May 2020

  • A male and possible female from far western Ontario in May 2023

• Rose-breasted Grosbeak x Scarlet Tanager 

  • Genetic confirmation of a hybrid between two highly divergent cardinalid species: A rose-breasted grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus) and a scarlet tanager (Piranga olivacea)

  • Meet the Tanabeak - All About Birds Article

  • Birdsong reveals rare hybrid coupling 10 million years in the making - PennState article