Adult Male Common Goldeneye x Hooded Merganser Hybrid

Common Goldeneye x Hooded Merganser hybrid at the Beach Canal in Hamilton/Burlington on 17 February 2012. Thanks to Barry Cherriere who spotted it among the hundreds of ducks wintering in the canal. Kevin McLaughlin first found this hybrid on 15 February 2012.

Common Goldeneye x Hooded Merganser hybrid (back) with three adult male Common Goldeneye at the Beach Canal, Hamilton/Burlington on 17 February 2012.

The hybrid had a green sheen on its head in certain lights. The tips of the upper and lower mandible were often apart as in photo above.

Link to first winter male Common Goldeneye x Hooded Merganser at Cobourg Harbour. Photo by Michael Runtz on 22 January 2012

http://www.ofo.ca/photoalbums/current/January/slides/CommonGoldeneyexHoodedMerganserhybridmr.html