Here is a photo taken in life of the red tinted blue jay from FL. It was killed
by a hawk subsequently and she asked me if it might be a hybrid with a
cardinal!
I considered hybridization between a jay and a cardinal extremely unlikely due
to their low degree of relatedness. Jays are in the same family as crows in the
Corvidae whereas cardinals are related to finches and grosbeaks.
A mutation is more likely although some means of coloration via environmental
influences is certainly possible..
Bill
----- Original Message -----
From: "belinda" <belindaaolsen@xxxxxxxxx>
To: "Bill Dunson" <wdunson@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, June 29, 2015 8:02:28 AM
Subject: Live Blue Jay
Hello Bill, here is the first of two photos of the Blue Jay. The feeder is
right next door to us. Belinda
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Attachment:
Blue jay with reddish feathers in FL by Belinda 20150530_093638 aa.jpg
Description: JPEG image
