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Philip Lavretsky

@lavretskylab

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We are a wildlife genetics lab serving the needs for proper conservation of management of biodiversity.🔬🍃🏞️

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Great find by James Petersen in submitting this fascinating Gadwall x Mallard hybrid backcross. This bird, and several others like it, are challenging the long-held beliefs of the reproductive viability of hybrids. Genetic analysis shows that this bird is the result of a successful breeding between a Gadwall × Mallard hybrid (commonly called a Brewer's Duck) and a female Gadwall.

Hybrids between distantly related species, such as Mallards and Gadwall, are commonly believed to be sterile. Yet we have identified multiple birds that are the result of a Brewer’s Duck backcrossing with a Gadwall, demonstrating that these hybrids can reproduce and pass their genes to future generations.

What's especially surprising is that nearly every Gadwall × Mallard backcross we've encountered appears to have been the result of a male Brewer’s Duck mating with a female Gadwall. This pattern suggests that male Brewer's Ducks may preferentially select Gadwall mates, a question we are excited to explore further.

This bird's appearance is overwhelmingly Gadwall-like, reflecting its predominantly Gadwall genetics. This helps explain why hunters have typically referred to birds of this type as a “stud gadwall” or a gadwall with aberrant plumage. However, the broad iridescent green stripe across the crown is an indicator of Mallard influence.

Another giveaway of this bird’s mixed ancestry is its sharply defined and buff-colored cheek patch and broad black neck ring. While Gadwall can occasionally show pale cheeks, they are typically subtle and overlaid with fine vermiculation. This bird's facial pattern is reminiscent of traits commonly seen in first-generation Gadwall × Mallard hybrids.

Overall, this is an exceptional example of a Gadwall-dominant backcross, combining the appearance of a Gadwall with several reminders of its Mallard ancestry. Thanks again to James for sharing such a unique and informative bird!

#duckDNA #waterfowlscience #duckhunting #duckhybrid #mallard #gadwall by @lavretskylab

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This week wildturkeyDNA heads to Idaho, and an area with stunning views, to identify the origin of the solid white plumage in Zach’s turkey. We will reveal results tomorrow but drop your comments below as to what you think about the origin of the odd plumage in this bird. Is it a wild turkey, a Heritage turkey, or something else?
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#science #research #conservation by @lavretskylab

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When Tyler shot this cool looking turkey in Tennessee during spring 2026, he contacted us to see if we could help determine the origin of the odd plumage sported by his bird. The tail and rump feathers appear mostly normal for the Eastern subspecies of wild turkey, which is what inhabits Tennessee. However, the primary and secondary feathers on the wings have more pronounced white barring than expected, and the contour feathers on the body are in my instances themselves solid white. Likewise, the feathering on the legs is mostly white, and even some of the darker contour feathers on the body are tipped in white. Well, genetic testing through wildturkeyDNA revealed that this unique bird is 100% wild turkey. As you can see in the 2nd image, Tyler’s turkey clusters entirely within other samples known to be from wild turkeys of the Eastern subspecies. This wild turkey shows signs of partial leucism, where some feathers on the body are normal, but others appear white or partially white. Partial leucism results from genetic mutations that cause disruptions in melanin production. Congrats to Tyler for harvesting a beautiful and unique wild turkey and stay tuned for more results from wildturkeyDNA as we explore the origin of plumage color variations in these magnificent birds.
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#science #conservation #research #turkeyhunting by @lavretskylab

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16 days ago

Props to Kyle Burdue for noticing the uniqueness of this Florida Mottled Duck x Game-farm Mallard Hybrid this past December in Central Florida!

At first glance, this looks like your regular Mottled Duck: dark feathers with tan edging, black spot at the base of a prominent yellow bill, and dark eye stripe. But wait! What’s that on the wing? On a typical Florida Mottled Duck, the white bars above and below the speculum are faint to nonexistent. However, these white stripes are rather hefty. What’s up with that?

Turns out, this Mottled Duck has Game-farm Mallard ancestry mixed in. While it is a relatively small amount at 13%—reflecting a series of backcrosses with pure Mottled Ducks—studies have shown that even a small percentage of Game-farm Mallard heritage can alter appearance and behavior.

It’s easy to wonder whether this drake’s behaviors and habitat preferences were different from a pure Mottled Duck. How much was dictated by its remaining Game-farm Mallard ancestry? Knowing the extent of Game-farm Mallard ancestry among Florida Mottled Ducks is important to waterfowl managers because of its potential threats to the genetic integrity and sustainability of native Mottled Ducks. Our team appreciates the opportunity to provide data that will continue to inform this understanding.

#duckDNA #waterfowlscience #duckhunting #duckhybrid #mallard #mottledduck by @lavretskylab

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17 days ago

This week wildturkeyDNA heads back east to make a stop in Tennessee and check out a super interesting looking turkey shot by Tyler during spring 2026. We’ll reveal results tomorrow but drop your thoughts in the comments as to the origin of this bird’s plumage. Is it a wild turkey, a Heritage turkey, or something else?
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#science #wildturkeyhunting #research #conservation by @lavretskylab

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17 days ago

Collin had been seeing this unique looking turkey on his hunting grounds in Utah, so when he harvested the bird in fall 2025, he reached out to us at wildturkeyDNA to see if we could help him understand the origin of the bird’s odd plumage. Both Rio Grande and Merriam’s wild turkeys were translocated to Utah decades ago, but Collin’s turkey certainly does not look like either of those! The primary feathers are mostly black with a white rachis (shaft), whereas the secondaries are pale white with muted black tones. The contour feathers lack iridescence and have tan hues along with white and black, but the tail is mostly white with a black subterminal band. Genetic testing through wildturkeyDNA revealed that this turkey was 100% Heritage turkey. As you can see in the 2nd image, Collin’s turkey clusters within samples we’ve obtained from other Heritage turkeys. The most likely scenario was that Collin’s turkey escaped from a farm or was released and had become a feral turkey living amongst wild turkeys. We congratulate Collin for harvesting this turkey, which will help keep our local turkey flocks wild. Stay tuned for more results from wildturkeyDNA as we explore the origin of plumage color variations in these magnificent birds. by @lavretskylab

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23 days ago

Big thanks to Brayden Bledsaw for submitting this Greater Scaup x Lesser Scaup hybrid harvested this past January in Arkansas!

Immediately upon seeing this bird, we knew something was afoot. The black and white vermiculation on its back and its broad “blue bill” provided obvious clues to its scaup ancestry. The enlarged nail on its bill and white extending onto the primaries were indicative of Greater Scaup, but something still seemed a bit atypical.

DNA analysis confirmed our suspicion. This bird is 88% Greater Scaup and 12% Lesser Scaup, pointing to a hybrid breeding between these two species somewhere in the past, perhaps as a great-grandparent or further back.

Adding to the intrigue around this bird is its harvest location in Arkansas. Lesser Scaup and Greater Scaup are closely related and use similar breeding and wintering habitats where both occur, leading to occasional hybridization events. However, Greater Scaup are far less abundant overall than Lesser Scaup and are typically associated with coastal and marine waters. Lesser Scaup, in contrast, are more likely to occur on inland habitats of the type likely encountered in Arkansas, making this a truly unique find!

Thanks to Brayden for noting the unusual features of this bird and for reaching out to duckDNA for definitive answers! What other unusual diver hybrids are you hoping we will uncover this season?

#duckDNA #waterfowlscience #duckhunting #duckhybrid #greaterscaup #lesserscaup #scaup by @lavretskylab

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24 days ago

Like many big game hunters, wildturkeyDNA heads west this week to see if we can figure out the origin of the unique plumage in Collin’s turkey he harvested in Utah during fall 2025. We’ll reveal results tomorrow, but drop your thoughts in the comments as to the origin of this bird’s plumage. Is it a wild turkey, a Heritage turkey, or something else? by @lavretskylab

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24 days ago

When Tristen harvested this unique looking turkey in Alabama during spring 2026, he reached out to us at wildturkeyDNA to see if we could help determine the origin of the interesting looking plumage on his bird. The primary feathers are entirely black, and the secondary feathers also lack barring but have varying tones of browns with reddish hues. The contour feathers on the back are also quite dark, and the feathers at the base of the tail are darker than you’d expect in an Eastern wild turkey. Lastly, the tail feathers have an interesting black subterminal band along with reddish tones that create a stunning appearance. Genetics testing through wildturkeyDNA revealed that Tristen’s bird was 100% wild turkey, and what a beautiful wild turkey it is! You can see in the 3rd image that this bird clusters directly within the hundreds of samples we’ve obtained from Eastern wild turkeys, and this bird’s plumage is the result of multiple genetic mutations that are causing overproduction of melanin, which contributes to the dark plumage. Congratulations to Tristan for harvesting such a beautiful and unique wild turkey, and stay tuned for more results from wildturkeyDNA as we explore the origin of plumage variations in these magnificent birds. by @lavretskylab

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Congratulations to Vincent Fiorenza for harvesting this Wood Duck x Game-Farm Mallard hybrid in northern California in November of 2025!

Interestingly, this Wood Duck x Mallard hybrid resulted from a Game-Farm Mallard, not a Wild Mallard. Of the Mallard x Wood Duck hybrids analyzed by duckDNA so far, approximately half have involved Game-Farm Mallards. Although our sample size is small, we find it intriguing that Game-Farm Mallards in our dataset appear to hybridize with Wood Ducks at a frequency similar to that of Wild Mallards.

What makes these hybrids even more remarkable is the evolutionary distance between the two species. Mallards and Wood Ducks diverged roughly 10 million years ago, yet they are still capable of producing offspring.

Vincent's bird beautifully showcases this unusual combination of genetics. While it retains many traits inherited from its maternal Wood Duck lineage, several features reveal its mixed ancestry. The crisp color boundaries typical of a pure Wood Duck are softened and mottled, and the head is predominantly green, lacking the bold white facial stripes seen on a mature drake Wood Duck. The bill is also much less colorful than that of a typical Wood Duck, instead showing stronger yellow tones reminiscent of a drake Mallard. Its feet are a bright yellow-orange, contrasting with the duller orange-brown feet usually seen on a pure Wood Duck.

Hybrids like this offer a fascinating glimpse into the complexity of waterfowl genetics and evolution. Thanks to Vincent for sharing this exceptional bird with us!

#duckDNA #waterfowlscience #duckhunting #duckhybrid #mallard #woodduck by @lavretskylab

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a month ago

This week, wildturkeyDNA stays put in Alabama to take a look at a truly unique turkey harvested by Tristan during spring 2026. We’ll post results tomorrow, but drop your thoughts in the comments as to the origin of the unique plumage on this bird. Is it a wild turkey, a Heritage turkey, or something else? by @lavretskylab

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a month ago

When this turkey was harvested in Alabama during spring 2025, a friend of the hunter reached out to us at wildturkeyDNA to see if we’d be interested in figuring out the origin of the odd plumage in this bird. And what a cool looking turkey! The secondary coverts on the wing are mostly white and tipped in black, whereas the primary feathers on the wing appear mostly normal. The secondary feathers are largely white with only faint dark barring. The contour feathers on the body are pale white with black tips, as are the feathers on the upper surface of the wing. Well, genetic testing through wildturkeyDNA revealed that this turkey is 100% wild turkey! In the 2nd image, you can clearly see that this bird clusters solidly within the many hundreds of samples we have tested from Eastern wild turkeys. Many years ago, the late Lovett Williams published a paper showing several turkeys believed to be fully wild that had smoke gray plumage, and for many years, turkeys that appear similar to this bird from Alabama have been called a smoke color phase. However, whether these birds that are harvested are true wild turkeys or not has been debated for years. Well, this wild turkey certainly appears to fit the description of a smoke color phase and is the first 100% wild turkey with this plumage coloration that we’ve documented through wildturkeyDNA. Congratulations to the lucky hunter who was blessed to harvest such a unique wild turkey, and stay tuned for more results from wildturkeyDNA as we explore the origin of plumage variations in these magnificent birds. by @lavretskylab

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a month ago