Dutch Birding volume 32 (2010) no 3

Hybrid Cattle x Little Egret at Braakman in November 2009

A hybrid Cattle x Little Egret Bubulcus ibis x Egretta garzetta was observed at Braakman, Zeeuws-Vlaanderen, Zeeland, the Netherlands, on 3 November 2009. The identification was based on mixed features indicating both parent species, and a few atypical characters. The bill was very long with an atypical shape and pinkish colour, the legs were relatively short, aberrantly pale greenish, with, in flight, a very different proportion to the tail. The wing was very broad, especially at the base, showing overlap with the base of the tail-feathers.
This is probably the first record of this type of hybrid in the wild (although it had been recorded in captivity). Little Egret breeds at Braakman since 1999 and one or two Cattle Egrets have been staying in or close to the colony since at least 2006. A nest with two eggs of Cattle Egret found at Braakman in 2006 concerned the species' second breeding record for the Netherlands. Furthermore, one was seen nesting here in 2008 and across the Scheldt river in Zuid-Beveland, Zeeland, a family with three juveniles was found on 4 July 2009. Although both species breed (or have bred) in each other's vicinity, no mixed breeding was ever observed. Nevertheless, it seems likely that the hybrid was of local origin.

Ies Meulmeester, Leliestraat 27, 4461 PC Goes, Nederland
(iesmeulmeestersolcon.nl)