Overview

• Genetic analyses reported in Ecology and Evolution confirm a male hybrid with a green jay mother and a blue jay father.
• A homeowner’s May 2023 photo near San Antonio prompted capture in June 2023 for blood sampling, banding, and release, with a resighting reported in summer 2025.
• The bird shows predominantly blue plumage with a green jay–like black facial mask and calls that blend vocalizations of both species.
• Researchers link the event to newly overlapping ranges as green jays move north and blue jays expand west with human-altered landscapes, despite a ~7 million–year evolutionary split.
• No hybrid population or offspring have been documented, the bird is not a new species, and scientists are requesting additional sightings and recordings.