Avocet hybrid - what's the mix? Broomfield & Boulder Counties

[Donna Stumpp]

I was out at Stearns Lake this afternoon and saw a very dark Avocet-looking bird in the pond on the west side, which is Broomfield County. Below are a couple of photos. I then birded Stearns Lake in Boulder County and saw it fly over along with the 7 Avocets it was with at the pond.

The other Avocets would at times chase this bird, and it would at times chase the others. They didn't seem to be comfortable being very close to each other.

It appears to be a hybrid since none of the field guides show Avocets of any age or gender with this coloring. I'm hoping for ideas on what it is mixed with, and/or a recommendation for a website to help me figure that out. 

Thanks,

Donna Stumpp

Jefferson County

[Donna Stumpp]

Okay - a couple theories in so far: a melanistic bird (genetic mutation with excessive dark pigment), or an oiled bird. I learned there was an oiled bird seen a couple of weeks ago in the same location. 

So as I strive to become a better birder, I am curious to learn how those of you with more decades under your belt decide what is going on with this bird. I notice this bird seems to have darker legs than a regular American Avocet. Are the legs colored when they are oiled? Overall, it does look pretty much like a regular Avocet except for the coloring. The hybrids I found online were with BNST, and it obviously isn't one of those. Do Avocets not mix with any other species? So much to learn. That's part of what makes birding so much fun. Thank you for the emails and the ideas!

Donna Stumpp

Jefferson County

[David Suddjian]

If the bird looks normal

In regard to shape and size and general color patterns (like the white patches on the closed wing; orange head and neck) it points away from a hybrid to a plumage abnormality or something in that realm. 

David Suddjian

Sent from my iPhone

On May 5, 2022, at 5:54 PM, Donna Stumpp <donna....@gmail.com> wrote:

Okay - a couple theories in so far: a melanistic bird (genetic mutation with excessive dark pigment), or an oiled bird. I learned there was an oiled bird seen a couple of weeks ago in the same location. 

--
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
Groups "Colorado Birds" group.
To post to this group, send email to cob...@googlegroups.com
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/cobirds?hl=en?hl=en
* All posts should be signed with the poster's full name and city. Include bird species and location in the subject line when appropriate
* Join Colorado Field Ornithologists https://cobirds.org/CFO/Membership/
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to cobirds+u...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/2802b396-3134-422a-9216-ac1cd957c9fan%40googlegroups.com.

[Charlie Chase]

The rough and ruffled look of the feathers on the belly and sides as portrayed in these pictures suggest damaged feathers.  It is very similar to the oiled birds I have handled in the past.   Just a thought.

Charlie Chase 

Denver

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/D2BEE3F0-DB8F-45C5-B292-2FC716BB07E7%40gmail.com.

[Eric DeFonso]

I saw and photographed this bird as well last week. I saw nothing to my mind to indicate that it was an oiled bird, mostly since it seemed to fly just fine, and the discoloration (if you want to call it that) seemed to match the color pattern of a normally pigmented bird. I would expect an oiled or soiled bird to have the filth spread across different parts of the color pattern, not adhering to it so closely so that the light parts were still light, like they were on this individual.

Also, its behavior seemed mostly normal to me as well, and there were plenty of times that it fed alongside other avocets without particular incident, no moreso than any avocets are a little edgy this time of year. It could be that there's some feather wear, but to my eyes this was simply a melanistic avocet, the 2nd one I've seen this season in fact. One was reported up in Loveland the same day I saw mine, just a few hours after it left.

Eric

-------

Eric DeFonso
near Lyons, Boulder County, CO

--