For many years now it has been known of a hybrid Redcapped Robin-chat and Chorister Robin-chat. In fact at first it was thought that it was a separate species of bird, this however was proven to be false. These hybrids are by no means common but do occur, in fact over the last 11 years of my bird ringing I have never come across one until last weekend.
The difference can be varied but normally the darker longer crown marking is a give away and then the darker patches on the face. Below is a few photos showing the normal birds and then the hybrid version.
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| Redcapped Robin-chat |
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| Chorister Robin-chat |
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| Hybrid Natal x Chorister Robin-chat |
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| Hybrid - top view to show the darker head and how it stretches down to the back |
