Jack Bowling wrote:

> Some enterprising birders found what they assume is a
>hybrid male Hooded Merganser X Common Goldeneye yesterday near Vanderhoof
>in central B.C. Does anyone know of any published pictures of such a
>mongrel which may be viewed by the public? If so, where? The bird in
>question had the body shape and long tertials of a HOME, but a green gloss
>to the head and the usual rusty scupper strip of the HOME faded to ivory
>toward the breast. Any help appreciated.

>Jack Bowling
>Prince George, BC
>jack_bowling at mindlink.bc.ca

Hi Jack, welcome aboard. Sounds like the same bird (or a sibling) that
wintered in Alberni Inlet on the west coast of Vancouver Island this year.
Sandy McRuer and Don Cecile of Port Alberni have photos (marginal quality),
which I looked at. The bird was with Barrow's Goldeneyes, so I concluded
that it could be a HOME X BAGO hybrid, but the photos were not clear enough.
I'll pass this note on to Sandy for comment.

I had not heard of such a hybrid, but I suppose either is possible, since
all three species are cavity nesters in the southern half of BC. Sounds like
a "Hoodie" was cohabiting with one of the others or was arguing over a nest
hole...in a friendly way.

It would be interesting to keep track of the bird this summer and see if it
or others return to the Alberni area next fall.

Bryan Gates, Victoria
bgates at assessment.env.gov.bc.ca