A blue jay and a green jay mated. Their offspring is a scientific marvel
5 hours ago
- #hybrid-birds
- #climate-change
- #wildlife
- A new study describes a hybrid bird, a cross between a blue jay and a green jay, never before seen in the wild.
- The hybrid is believed to be the first vertebrate hybrid resulting from two species expanding their ranges due to climate change.
- Green jays have expanded northward by over 100 miles since 2000, while blue jays have been moving westward.
- The hybrid bird exhibits traits of both species, including blue feathers and white spots like a blue jay, and eye spots like a green jay.
- Genetic analysis confirmed the bird is the offspring of a male blue jay and a female green jay.
- This unusual pairing is surprising because the species are not closely related and typically form long-term bonds with mates of their own species.
- The overlap in ranges is recent, likely due to climate change and habitat modification, leading to unexpected species interactions.
- Scientists are curious about future interactions between blue and green jays as their ranges continue to overlap.