Red-crested Pochard Netta rufina x (Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca x Greater Scaup Aythya merila) trigen

That Red-crested Pochard is one parent of this bird seems fairly clear but the identity of its second parent is much more difficult to determine. If we assume the second parent was a pure species then Greater Scaup seems a likely bet (these used to be present in the collection, though not at the time I first saw this hybrid). Initially I thought that was the probable identity but I am now favouring another possibility - which is that the second parent was a different Aythya hybrid that had been in the collection for some time. That hybrid appears to be Ferruginous Duck x Greater Scaup hybrid so if I'm right in thinking it was one of this bird's parents, then this is a Red-crested Pochard x (Ferruginous Duck x Greater Scaup) trigen.

captive probable Red-crested Pochard x (Ferruginous Duck x Greater Scaup) trigen (with Red-crested Pochard), Blakeney Quayside collection (Norfolk, UK), 9th November 2013

captive probable Red-crested Pochard x (Ferruginous Duck x Greater Scaup) trigen, Blakeney Quayside collection (Norfolk, UK), 24th November 2013

For comparison, here are photos of the parent species/hybrid.

captive Red-crested Pochard and captive Ferruginous Duck x Greater Scaup hybrid, both Blakeney Quayside collection (Norfolk, UK), 4th December 2010

For more photos of these species/hybrid follow the links below:

• Red-crested Pochard
• Ferruginous Duck x Greater Scaup hybrid