ML391788221
Bufflehead x Hooded Merganser (hybrid) Bucephala albeola x Lophodytes cucullatus
Contributor
Marky Mutchler Media from this contributor Profile
Date
Location
Loess Bluffs NWR
Holt, Missouri, United States
Media from this location Illustrated Checklist- Age
- Not specified
- Sex
- Not specified
Observation details
Unfortunately did not eBird this individual at the time due to uncertainty + forgetfulness. Adult male, mostly Bufflehead in appearance except for a few marks. First notes due to structural differences (odd head shape, straight neck and throat angling perpendicular with bill). Then looked at plumage markings. The large white section of the back of the head was entirely surrounded by dark feathers, creating a black border (all white in pure Bufflehead). The other main mark was the two dark spurs extending down the front and on the sides of the breast, which are marks only found on Hooded Merganser. Hybrid combinations of these two species are highly variable, but often tend towards Bufflehead-appearing.
Technical information
- Dimensions
- 828 pixels x 485 pixels
- Original file size
- 80.7 KB