In the American state of Texas, scientists have for the first time discovered a hybrid in the wild between a Blue Jay and a Green Jay—species whose lineages diverged about 7 million years ago. The unique bird emerged due to the overlap of their ranges, facilitated by climate change and urbanization.
Scientists documented a unique occurrence in the wild: a hybrid of the Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) and the Green Jay (Cyanocorax yncas), species whose ancestral lines separated about 7 million years ago. The unusual bird was spotted near San Antonio, Texas, according to Wiley.com.
The hybrid was first noticed by a local resident who posted a photo online. Brian Stokes, an ecologist from the University of Texas at Austin who studies Green Jays, became interested in the finding and successfully caught the bird in a fine mist net in 2023. Scientists took a blood sample, performed a genetic analysis, and confirmed: it is the offspring of a female Green Jay and a male Blue Jay.
The hybrid inherited traits from both species: bluish plumage from the Blue Jay, and dark facial patterns from the Green Jay. Furthermore, it can produce vocalizations characteristic of both species. Previously, such a hybrid had only been bred in captivity in the 1970s, and its specimen is housed at the Fort Worth Museum.
Scientists explain that the appearance of this offspring was made possible by climate change and shifting ranges. Green Jays have moved farther north from Mexico and Central America, while Blue Jays have moved west under pressure from urbanization. Their territories intersected precisely in the San Antonio area.
Experts suggest this case might be just the “tip of the iceberg“: hybrids are likely more common but remain undetected in sparsely populated areas.
