Probable hybrid African x Eurasian Spoonbill ringed in Italy and found in Hungary

Ádám Faragó was able to take a picture of a putative hybrid African x Eurasian Spoonbill (Platalea alba x Platalea leucorodia) at Zalavár, Kis-Balaton, Bárándi-víz, Hungary, on 28^th July 2007. The bird was ringed with an Italian black ring, and was probably born in Valle Mandriole near Ravenna, Po Delta, NE Italy, in a colony where a mixed African x European Spoonbill pair is well known since 2004. The bird was showing red bare parts on face, was told white-eyed and greyish-billed. Moreover, the dark, and not pinkish leg was pointing to an hybrid and not to a pure African Spoonbill. The bird should be immature, having dark tips on primaries, but those are covered by the tertials in the picture. Finally, check the further photos out, showing a probable parent of the putative hybrid.

Putative hybrid African x Eurasian Spoonbill, Zalavár, Kis-Balaton, Bárándi-víz, Hungary, 28^th July 2007, photo by Ádám Faragó

21:52 - Tuesday, July 31, 2007 - post comment