The bird world offers many surprises — Anonymous

A birding group led by Bill Harris was treated with a surprise at Elk Meadows on Jan. 28 when visiting Rebecca Kindred’s home.

They spotted many different species of birds that day, but one bird got a lot of attention – a beautiful hybrid Northern Flicker. These are incredibly rare to see.

This bird is one born from breeding between the Yellow- shafted Flicker, which is usually seen from the Midwest to the Eastern United States, and the Red-shafted Flicker, commonly seen in the West.

A hybrid bird is a bird that has two different species as parents and shows characteristics from the two species. Many hybrid variations of the flicker have been documented. These hybrids can be identified by birders who note the color on the nape (back of head), color of the malar stripe (the line angling back from a bird’s chin which can sometimes look like a mustache), under the wings and the color under its tail.

Hybridization is the interbreeding of species that provide favorable conditions for major and rapid evolution to occur.

This occurrence in birds is becoming more frequent and has many factors. Hybridization of species can be affected by climate change (affecting migration and habitat), food availability, and loss of habitat which results in movement of certain birds to different ranges, which has happened with the Yellow-shafted Flicker.

Experts believe that one in 10 species of birds are known to hybridize. But some birds who are closely related don’t hybridize, including ravens and crows, which are both part of the corvid family.

Research done by scientists show many warblers and hummingbirds are at the top of the list for hybridization.

Some species of ducks, gulls, prairie chickens and grouse can also create hybrids with close relatives. Most birds will usually mate within the same genus.

Different species that breed and create a hybrid but are part of a different genus may be infertile and have trouble attracting mates.

Unfortunately hybridization has a negative side effect – these hybrid birds do not tend to have long lives.

This is an interesting topic, and it is always fascinating to see a new bird. I am sure it was a highlight for the birders to see this hybrid Northern Flicker and they may never see another one again.

THE FOLLOWING BIRDS WERE SIGHTED IN OURAY COUNTY IN JANUARY 2023: Canada Goose, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Bald Eagle (both mature & immature), Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker (Hybrid)**, American Kestrel, Northern Shrike*, Steller Jay, Clark’s Nutcracker, Pinyon Jay, Blackbilled Magpie, American Crow, Common Raven, Mountain Chickadee, Black-capped Chickadee, Pygmy Nuthatch, White-breasted Nuthatch, Spotted Towhee*, American Tree Sparrow**, Darkeyed Junco (Oregon, slate-colored, Pink-sided, Gray-headed) White-throated Sparrow*, Redwinged Blackbird, Pine Siskin, Rosy-Finches (Brown-capped, Gray-crowned, Black), Cassin’s Finch, House Finch, House Sparrow NOTE: Hybrid Flicker seen by many birders in Elk Meadows on Jan. 28, Northern Shrike seen in Ridgway, American Tree Sparrow may be new species for Ouray County, White-throated Sparrow still being seen at Elk Meadows.

No ducks seen or reported, frozen water on ponds, lakes.