Blue-winged Teal Spatula discors x Cinnamon Teal Spatula cyanoptera hybrid

Both species were formerly placed in the genus Anas.

This can be a naturally-occurring hybrid in both North America where both species are common but is also frequent in captivity.

This tame bird undoubtedly originated in captivity (Blue-winged Teal is a very rare vagrant in the UK and Cinnamon Teal hasn't been accepted as occurring here naturally, though it probably has; both parent species are popular in captivity). It was seen displaying vigourously, sometimes on its own, sometimes with Mallards but most often to a female Mandarin.

escaped male Blue-winged Teal x Cinnamon Teal hybrid, Rollesby Broad (Norfolk, UK), 14th April 2017

It was such a lovely bird I couldn't help but go back for seconds...

escaped male Blue-winged Teal x Cinnamon Teal hybrid, Rollesby Broad (Norfolk, UK), 22nd April 2017

For comparison, here are photos of the parent species.

captive Blue-winged Teal, Martin Mere (Lancashire, UK), 16th December 2014 and captive Cinnamon Teal, Blakeney quayside collection (Norfolk, UK), 26th October 2016

For more photos of these species follow the links below:

• Blue-winged Teal
• Cinnamon Teal