First known wild 'grue jay' hybrid spotted in Texas
6 hours ago
- #hybridization
- #wildlife
- #climate-change
- A hybrid bird called 'grue jay' was spotted in south Texas, likely a mix between a green jay and a blue jay.
- This hybrid may be one of the first confirmed examples of vertebrate hybridization partially due to climate change.
- Green jays and blue jays, which split evolutionarily 7 million years ago, are now interacting due to shifting habitats caused by climate change.
- The hybrid was first identified from a grainy photo posted online, leading to its capture and genetic confirmation.
- Researchers believe hybridization is more common than documented, often hindered by species separation.
- This is the first known wild hybrid grue jay, with a previous instance being artificially bred in the 1960s.
- The hybrid bird reappeared in the same location in June after being released in 2022.