Hybrid Goldeneye
Common X Barrow’s Goldeneye Bucephala clangula X islandica, Homer Spit, 8 January 2012.
This bird was hanging out at the “fishing hole” on the Homer Spit on 8 January 2012. It has an intermediate amount of white on the scapulars and a facial spot that is intermediate in shape between the oval of a Common Goldeneye and the crescent of a Barrow’s. It lacks the dark “spur” of a Barrow’s that separates the white breast from the white sides. At rest this bird’s head shape seemed to be a better fit for Common Goldeneye.
