Belmar Oriole

[Bill Eley]

Apparently there is discussion about a Baltimore/Bullock's Oriole seen yesterday at Belmar by Frank Farrell (and probably others) concerning whether the bird might be a hybrid.  I looked at Franks's photos and honestly wasn't sure if it looked like a true hybrid or not (especially considering the amount of variation Oriole hybrids can have).  I sent the photo to Van Remsen, who I'm sure a lot of you know.  Here was his response:

"Bill — that big white blaze in wing is not found in pure BAOR but looks more like Bullock’s, so I would definitely go with hybrid

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Dr. J. V. Remsen

Prof. of Natural Science and Curator of Birds

Museum of Natural Science/Dept. Biological Sciences

LSU, Baton Rouge, LA 70803

najames<at>LSU.edu"