Hybrid Eurasian X African Spoonbill in the Po Delta, NE Italy

^{Aldo Tonelli was able to take a picture of a putative hybrid  Eurasian x African Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia x Platalea  alba) at the Canneviè sanctuary, Po Delta, NE Italy on 7th november 2008. Last year a similar hybrid (or the same ?) was photographed in Hungary by Ádám Faragó at Zalavár, Kis-Balaton, Bárándi-víz, on 28th July 2007. Both birds were ringed with an Italian black ring, and were probably born in Valle Mandriole near Ravenna, Po Delta, NE Italy, in a colony where a mixed African x Eurasian Spoonbill pair is well known since 2004. The birds were showing red bare parts on face. Moreover, the dark, and not pinkish legs was pointing to hybrid and not to pure African Spoonbills. A picture of the latter bird are available in this previous post.}

22:14 - Saturday, November 8, 2008 - post comment