A yellow-billed goldeneye (back) identified as a possible Barrow's, with five Common Goldeneyes.
Photo credit: Tom Beattie

There has been a lot of controversy this week as to whether a hybrid female Goldeneye has been spotted in New Jersey. Common Goldeneyes have black bills with a small yellowish patch at the tip while Barrow's Goldeneyes have an orange-yellow bill. The individual seen had an orange-yellow bill, which would lead you to believe it was a Barrow's Goldeneye, but other details, such as head shape, have lead experts to believe otherwise. Barrow's Goldeneyes are a lot less common in New Jersey and with such intermediate features, a hybrid Goldeneye is definitely a possibility.

• Click here to read New Jersey Outdoors birder Bill Lynch's opinion
• Click here to read the Sibley Guides: Identification of Northern Birds and Trees' opinion.