[EBB Sightings] Lake Merritt hybrid pictures

"The Birds of North America Online" comments that both Barrow's and Common
Goldeneyes usually form pair bonds before migration.  Hooded Mergansers seem
to form pair bonds Nov - Jan.  So if the strange critter picks out a female
goldeneye before it departs in the spring, that could be a clue as to
species.  But if it selects a merganser, all bets are off!

The courtship displays of all three species involve groups of males with a
fewer number of females, doing a relatively elaborate series of displays.
So it should be interesting to see if the strange duck joins any display
activity, and with which species.

Bob Lewis
Berkeley, CA