Common Pochard Aythya ferina x Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula hybrid

Common Pochard x Tufted Duck hybrid (with Common Pochard), Titchwell (Norfolk, UK), 3rd January 2014

Common Pochard x Tufted Duck hybrid (with Common Pochard), Titchwell (Norfolk, UK), 8th February 2014

Common Pochard x Tufted Duck hybrid, Welney (Norfolk, UK), 2nd January 2005

Structurally the next bird was much like a Pochard and it had grey Pochard-like wing-bars. I considered the possibility that it was just an aberrant Pochard, but I don't think so - it also had a less contrasting dark breast than other female Pochards there and the bill pattern wasn't normal. Female Common Pochard x Tufted Duck hybrids typically show a white face, more extensive than is usually present on either parent species, but this was the same size as Pochard, had a darker bill than most Pochard x Tufted females and a more restricted pale subterminal band, and it lacked any hint of a tuft. It may be that this one is a Pochard x Tufted Duck hybrid backcrossed with Pochard. I also considered Pochard x Scaup, a combination I have never come across before, but I suspect it's not. Thoughts welcome!

possible Common Pochard x Tufted Duck hybrid, Welney (Norfolk, UK), 4th February 2017

Common Pochard x Tufted Duck hybrid (with Tufted Ducks), Swanton Morley fishing lakes (Norfolk, UK), 27th December 2008

Common Pochard x Tufted Duck hybrid, (with Tufted Ducks) Swanton Morley fishing lakes (Norfolk, UK), 30th December 2008

Common Pochard x Tufted Duck hybrid (with Greater Scaup), Titchwell (Norfolk, UK), 8th February 2014

For comparison, here are photos of the parent species.

Common Pochard, Welney (Norfolk, UK), 29th November 2014 and Tufted Duck, Welney (Norfolk, UK), 24th February 2017

For more photos of these species follow the links below:

• Common Pochard
• Tufted Duck