onsdag den 11. februar 2015

Hybrid or not - Yellowhammer with red on throat

The Yellowhammer in the four photos below was seen by Jannik Andersen on May 24th 2014 in a private garden on Maglebjergvej just north of Helsinge in Denmark. The big question is whether its head and throat pattern is within normal variation of pure Yellowhammer or whether it could indicate a hybrid origin with genetic influence from Pine Bunting. According to the paper on hybridization between Yellowhammer and Pine Bunting in Russia the latter should be the case.

For other similar individuals please have a look at these apparent hybrids from Finland with this one form March 23rd 2012 at Hanko Bird Observatory wich has been accepted as hybrid by the Finnish RC and this other Finnish individual here and here which most likely has been photographed on 31st December 2006 in Kristiinankaupunki. However, this one has not been reported to the Finnish RC, but based on the photographs Aleksi Lehikoinen comments that it should most likely be accepted as another Yellowhammer x Pine Bunting hybrid.

Additionally, there is this recent individual from Sweden: here and here.

Yellowhammer can have some red brown in their head pattern such as seen in this male form Denmark, this male from June 7th 2011 in Leicestershire, England and this male from April 7th 2012 in Lancashire, England which all have some bright red in their submoustacial stripe.

May 24, 2014. (C) Jannik Andersen
May 24, 2014. (C) Jannik Andersen
May 24, 2014. (C) Jannik Andersen
May 24, 2014. (C) Jannik Andersen