Rare blue-and-green hybrid jay spotted in Texas is offspring of birds whose lineages split 7 million years ago

Composite of the newly discovered bird (center) is a hybrid of a blue jay (left) and a green jay (right), with distinguishing features of both species.

For the first time, scientists have observed the wild hybrid offspring of a blue jay and a green jay during a study near San Antonio, Texas.

The hybrid bird is the product of two species whose habitat ranges began to overlap a few decades ago, according to a study published Sept. 10 in the journal Ecology and Evolution.