Possible White-browed/Masked woodswallow hybrid

[Vivien Rolland <>]

Hi,

Yesterday 15th of october at Campbell Park (ACT) there was a group of 30+ 
White-browed and 5 Masked woodswallows in which I found a peculiar bird which I 
now think is a male White-browed/Masked woodswallow hybrid.
The bird was perched quite low together with 2-3 White-browed Woodswallows and 
I could see it for about 30 seconds. It had bright rufous underparts (like a 
male White-browed Woodswallow) and a black eye/face/throat mask (like a male 
Masked Woodswallow). There was a thin white line around the black mask that 
turned into a thicker white band on its upper chest creating a neat contrast 
with both black and rufous parts.

I only have HANZAB vol. 1 so far - still looking for all the other ones so if 
you want to sell them contact me in private! - so I couldn't check whether it 
mentions Woodswallow hybrids.
I therefore turned to the internet - always dangerous, I know!
Photo 544204-D at http://www.graemechapman.com.au/library/viewphotos.php?c=576 
displays a bird similar to what I saw yesterday (top bird obviously).

I am interested in information about woodswallow hybrids so I turn to 
experienced Australian birders out there.
How common are Woodswallow hybrids? How much variation do they show? Are there 
confirmed observations of female hybrids?

Thanks a lot for your help!

Cheers,
Vivien Rolland (Viv)
ACT
===============================

To unsubscribe from this mailing list,
send the message:
unsubscribe
(in the body of the message, with no Subject line)
to: 

http://birding-aus.org
===============================