What happens when a blue jay and a green jay cross paths? It’s not a punchline; it’s a fascinating discovery about a hybrid bird never seen in the wild before.
Researchers are uncovering why this unique bird exists. Brian Stokes, a biology doctoral student at the University of Texas at Austin, believes this hybrid might be the first vertebrate born from two species expanding their ranges, partly due to climate change. This study was reported in the journal Ecology and Evolution.
The bright green jay typically resides in parts of South America and Mexico. Its range has shifted north by over 100 miles since 2000, crowding into territories like southern Texas. Timothy Keitt, a professor at the same university, noticed this trend through avid birdwatchers documenting sightings on platforms like eBird. “They’re pretty unmistakable in the field,” Keitt noted.
In May 2023, Stokes spotted a curious post about an unusual jay in a San Antonio suburb. It didn’t look like any jays he had seen before. Keitt and Stokes rushed to investigate. They described the discovery as a surprise stemming from climate change and land development that forces animals into new habitats. These events can lead to unforeseen interactions, such as those between tropical and temperate species.
It took a few attempts, but researchers successfully captured the hybrid jay. They observed it had physical features from both parents: blue feathers similar to a blue jay but with the eye spot characteristic of a green jay. They confirmed through genetic analysis that it was indeed a mix of the two species.
Interestingly, there’s been only one known blue jay-green jay hybrid before, born in captivity in the 1960s. Gavin M. Leighton, a biology professor with expertise in bird hybridization, expressed surprise at the pairing. He believes that hybridization often occurs from mistaken identity, as many hybrid birds are closely related, unlike these jays.
Leighton suggests that the odd coupling might stem from stressful conditions at the end of the breeding season. If finding a mate proves difficult, birds might make unusual choices.
Today’s scenario is unprecedented. The ranges of blue jays and green jays have only started to overlap in the last decade, partially due to changes in their habitats driven by human activity.
Keitt notes that rising overnight temperatures in Texas could have made it easier for tropical species to thrive, leading to green jays moving north. As their territories converge in places like San Antonio, researchers are curious about future interactions. Will these species compete or coexist? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain—they’re likely to become more familiar with one another.
For more insights into bird populations and hybridization trends, you can check reliable sources such as the National Audubon Society or the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
