just a thought experiment to consider some recent sightings:
I must admit to being a little puzzled by this continued conversation. my
search of eBird finds no record of a Yellow-bellied Tit in North America.
I recognize that there may well be a record or two not included in eBird,
but it would seem that the probability of a Yellow-bellied Tit in North
America in order to contribute to a hybrid, or a hybrid bird making it from
east Asia, is vanishingly small.
And while the Red-flanked Bluetail has been well documented and plainly
here, I note that the previous sightings on eBird are in West Coast cities
except for two inland western sightings, leading me to wonder if these are
not either ship-assisted birds or released/escaped "pet" birds. Still a
very cool bird, but have to wonder how it got here.
I'd be interested in others' thoughts on either issue.
Chris Kessler
Seattle
On Sun, Mar 20, 2022 at 8:42 AM Garrett Haynes <
garrettwhaynes at me.com>
wrote:
>
Dan,
>
>
Yes, that seems like a more likely explanation and the color is similar.
>
That would be my first hypothesis then is staining from pollen or something
>
else, and hybridization would need some much heavier evidence. The bird
>
would probably have to be caught and examined, at least physically, and
>
samples taken to test genetics to confirm hybridization of that sort.
>
>
However, if it were truly a hybrid like that somehow that would be pretty
>
amazing. Makes me think of the hybrid warbler I saw in Boston that I think
>
was a cross between a black throated blue and a bay breasted warbler. I
>
watched it from within 10 feet and heard it singing and everything. It had
>
features of both. I ran back to get my camera and when I came back it was
>
gone. C'est la vie.
>
>
Garrett Haynes
>
Auburn, WA
>
>
Sent from my iPhone
>
>
On Mar 20, 2022, at 4:58 AM, Dan Reiff <dan.owl.reiff at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
Hello Garret,
>
Could the breast feathers be temporarily covered in yellowish pollen?
>
Note the similar colors for the pollen on vegetation around it.
>
Thanks,
>
Dan
>
>
Sent from my iPhone
>
>
On Mar 19, 2022, at 11:22 PM, Garrett Haynes <garrettwhaynes at me.com>
>
wrote:
>
>
>
Hello Tweeters,
>
>
I am wondering what people think about the bird reported as a
>
"yellow-bellied tit" at Kah Tai Lagoon on March 13th. The birder posits
>
that it may be a hybrid chestnut-backed chickadee x yellow-bellied tit due
>
to its having the normal chestnut-backed chickadee features in addition to
>
having a yellow belly. I have no idea about the possibility of a hybrid
>
like this occurring, sounds highly unlikely to me seeing as yellow-bellied
>
tits are in Asia, but I am wondering what explanation there may be for this
>
bird having such a yellow belly?
>
>
Here is the link to the eBird report:
>
https://ebird.org/checklist/S105173896
>
>
Garrett Haynes
>
Auburn, WA
>
>
Sent from my iPhone
>
_______________________________________________
>
Tweeters mailing list
>
Tweeters at u.washington.edu
>
http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
>
>
_______________________________________________
>
Tweeters mailing list
>
Tweeters at u.washington.edu
>
http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
>
--
"moderation in everything, including moderation"
Rustin Thompson