The birds below are unique; they’re hybrids. That is, they contain the genetic DNA for two different species. Look up each member of each pair in your field guide. See if you can spot the characteristics of each species in the hybrid. The photographs were taken by readers. We found them in our online galleries.

Share your bird photos in our galleries.

Eldon Greij discusses how we decide birds are, and aren’t, new species.

View the contents of our June 2012 issue.

See five reader photos of waxwings.

BLACK-THROATED GREEN x TOWNSEND’S WARBLER: Lorarend photographed this hybrid in Boy Scout Woods at High Island, Texas.

BARROW’S GOLDENEYE x HOODED MERGANSER: This male was discovered in 2006 in Alameda, California. Since then, it has been spotted regularly around the Lake Merritt area in Oakland, California. Mojoedevine snapped the photo.

VIOLET-CROWNED x BROAD-BILLED HUMMINGBIRD: Nnitzky found this hybrid at Boyce Thompson Arboretum in Superior, Arizona, in February 2009. The bird lives there year-round. You can find it at the feeders.

CINNAMON x GREEN-WINGED TEAL: MiaM came across this fascinating duck in northern Utah.

BREWSTER’S WARBLER: Online member The Scavenger photographed this Blue-winged x Golden-winged Warbler singing the Golden-winged’s song at the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area in northwestern New Jersey.

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