Rare Hybrid Bird Discovered Near San Antonio
A unique bird, resulting from the mating of a Blue Jay and a Green Jay, has been identified near San Antonio, marking a rare instance of interspecies hybridization.
In May 2023, a homeowner in a San Antonio suburb observed an unusual bird exhibiting characteristics of both Blue Jays and Green Jays. The bird displayed a blend of features: a slightly paler blue than a typical Blue Jay, a black face mask akin to a Green Jay, and a unique blue throat patch not common to either species.
Brian Stokes, a Ph.D. candidate at The University of Texas at Austin, investigated the sighting after seeing a social media post about the bird. He captured photographs and collected a blood sample for genetic analysis, confirming the bird as a hybrid offspring of a male Blue Jay and a female Green Jay.
This hybridization is notable because Blue Jays and Green Jays belong to different genera and have not shared a common ancestor for approximately 7.5 million years. Historically, their habitats did not overlap; however, climate change has altered their ranges, leading to this rare interspecies mating.
The bird, informally referred to as the "Grue Jay," was observed again in the summer of 2025, interacting with local Blue Jays. Researchers continue to monitor its behavior and encourage the public to report any similar sightings.