[obol] Re: 12/18/13 - Union County : BUSHTIT, HARRIS'S SPARROW, etc.

  • From: David Irons <llsdirons@xxxxxxx>
  • To: Trent Bray <avitours@xxxxxxx>, OBOL Oregon Birders Online <obol@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Fri, 20 Dec 2013 17:46:48 +0000

Trent Bray wrote: During yesterday's visit, I  found an interesting CHICKADEE 
which 
I photographed .  I think it may have  some mixed parentage.  Here is the 
location of the  photo:
http://i753.photobucket.com/albums/xx176/thebobolink/BCCHXMOCH.jpg

I  also found a interesting discussion with photos regarding hybrids:  

https://www.flickr.com/groups/hybridbirds/discuss/72157613164363562
Trent,
Over the past 3-4 years there have been multiple Black-capped Chickadee X 
Mountain Chickadee hybrids found in Washington. The amount of white over and in 
front of the eye is considerably weaker than most of the hybrids that I've seen 
in photos. With hybridization, the appearances of resulting offspring can be 
highly variable. That said, Black-capped Chickadees often show partial leucism, 
which might explain the appearance of this bird. Aside from the little swipe of 
white over they eye, this bird looks like a fairly typical Black-capped. What 
it lacks (apparent in all the hybrids shown at the discussion link you 
provided) is some white in the lores. Mountain Chickadees have a white break 
between the base of the bill and the front of the black mask and this 
characteristic seems to show up in hybrids. It is really obvious in the two 
Washington birds, but is weaker, yet still present in the Colorado bird. Your 
bird has entirely black lores. There is a possibility that it could be a F2 
hybrid–Black-capped Chickadee X Mountain Chickadee (F1 hybrid) X Black-capped 
Chickadee, which might explain a bird that suggests a hybrid but is more 
Black-capped in appearance.
Dave IronsPortland, OR

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