Bird hybrid

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Hybrid turaco Hybrid tauraco -Bird Kingdom, Niagara Falls, Canada-8a (1).jpg
Hybrid turaco
A Catalina macaw - a blue-and-yellow macaw x scarlet macaw hybrid Catalina macaw.jpg
A Catalina macaw - a blue-and-yellow macaw × scarlet macaw hybrid

A bird hybrid is a bird that has two different species as parents. The resulting bird can present with any combination of characteristics from the parent species, from totally identical to completely different. Usually, the bird hybrid shows intermediate characteristics between the two species. A "successful" hybrid is one demonstrated to produce fertile offspring. According to the most recent estimates, about 16% of all wild bird species have been known to hybridize with one another; this number increases to 22% when captive hybrids are taken into account. [1] Several bird species hybridize with multiple other species. For example, the mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) is known to interbreed with at least 40 different species. The ecological and evolutionary consequences of multispecies hybridization remain to be determined. [2]

Contents

In the wild, some of the most frequently reported hybrids are waterfowl, [3] gulls, [4] hummingbirds, [5] and birds-of-paradise. [6] Mallards, whether of wild or domestic origin, hybridize with other ducks so often that multiple duck species are at risk of extinction because of it. [7] [8] In gulls, Western × Glaucous-winged Gulls (known as "Olympic Gulls") are particularly common; these hybrids are fertile and may be more evolutionarily fit than either parent species. [9] At least twenty different hummingbird hybrid combinations have been reported, and intergeneric hybrids are not uncommon within the family. [10] [11]

Wood-warblers are known to hybridize as well, and an unusual three-species warbler hybrid was discovered in May 2018. [12] Hybridisation in shorebirds is unusual but reliably recorded. [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20]

Numerous gamebird, domestic fowl and duck hybrids are known. Captive songbird hybrids are sometimes called mules. [21] Numerous hybrid macaws exist in aviculture and occasionally occur in the wild. Some of these hybrid parrots are fertile with both the parent species and other hybrids. [22] [23]

The scientific literature on hybridization in birds has been collected at the Avian Hybrids Project. [24]

The reality of bird hybrids also calls into question modern definitions of the word "species". Throughout literature, there tends to be a general vagueness regarding the word "species" and how it should be defined. Birds serve as an excellent example of this fluidity due to the remarkable cross-breeding opportunities.[ citation needed ]

Examples of hybrid birds

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mallard</span> Species of duck

The mallard or wild duck is a dabbling duck that breeds throughout the temperate and subtropical Americas, Eurasia, and North Africa, and has been introduced to New Zealand, Australia, Peru, Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, the Falkland Islands, and South Africa. This duck belongs to the subfamily Anatinae of the waterfowl family Anatidae. Males have purple patches on their wings, while the females have mainly brown-speckled plumage. Both sexes have an area of white-bordered black or iridescent blue feathers called a speculum on their wings; males especially tend to have blue speculum feathers. The mallard is 50–65 cm (20–26 in) long, of which the body makes up around two-thirds the length. The wingspan is 81–98 cm (32–39 in) and the bill is 4.4 to 6.1 cm long. It is often slightly heavier than most other dabbling ducks, weighing 0.7–1.6 kg (1.5–3.5 lb). Mallards live in wetlands, eat water plants and small animals, and are social animals preferring to congregate in groups or flocks of varying sizes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Game (hunting)</span> Wild animals under pursuit or taken in hunting

Game or quarry is any wild animal hunted for animal products, for recreation ("sporting"), or for trophies. The species of animals hunted as game varies in different parts of the world and by different local jurisdictions, though most are terrestrial mammals and birds. Fish caught non-commercially are also referred to as game fish.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hawaiian duck</span> Species of bird

The Hawaiian duck or koloa is a species of bird in the family Anatidae that is endemic to the large islands of Hawaiʻi. Taxonomically, the koloa is closely allied with the mallard. It differs in that it is monochromatic and non-migratory. As with many duck species in the genus Anas, Hawaiian duck and mallards can interbreed and produce viable offspring, and the koloa has previously been considered an island subspecies of the mallard. However, all major authorities now consider this form to be a distinct species within the mallard complex. Recent analyses indicate that this is a distinct species that arose through ancient hybridization between mallard and Laysan duck. The native Hawaiian name for this duck is koloa maoli, or simply koloa. This species is listed as endangered by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, and its population trend is decreasing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hybridisation in gulls</span>

Hybridisation in gulls occurs quite frequently, although to varying degrees depending on the species involved.

Hybridisation in shorebirds has been proven on only a small number of occasions; however, many individual shorebirds have been recorded by birdwatchers worldwide that do not fit the characters of known species. Many of these have been suspected of being hybrids. In several cases, shorebird hybrids have been described as new species before their hybrid origin was discovered. Compared to other groups of birds, only a few species of shorebirds are known or suspected to hybridize, but nonetheless, these hybrids occur quite frequently in some cases.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Introgression</span> Transfer of genetic material from one species to another

Introgression, also known as introgressive hybridization, in genetics is the transfer of genetic material from one species into the gene pool of another by the repeated backcrossing of an interspecific hybrid with one of its parent species. Introgression is a long-term process, even when artificial; it may take many hybrid generations before significant backcrossing occurs. This process is distinct from most forms of gene flow in that it occurs between two populations of different species, rather than two populations of the same species.

Gamebird hybrids are the result of crossing species of game birds, including ducks, with each other and with domestic poultry. These hybrid species may sometimes occur naturally in the wild or more commonly through the deliberate or inadvertent intervention of humans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hybrid macaw</span> Crossbred bird

Hybrid macaws are the product of cross breeding of more than one species of macaw, resulting in a hybrid. They are often characterized and bred for their unique and distinct coloring, and for this reason, are highly sought after and valued in the exotic pet trade. Macaws are native to tropical North and South America. Hybridization of macaws occurs both in nature and captivity, being one of the few species that can produce viable, fertile offspring unlike many other hybrids produced from crossing different species resulting in sterile hybrids with factors that limit their success of survival. Hybrid macaws do not hold any scientific names, and are often labeled by the two macaw species they are produced from

References

  1. ↑ Ottenburghs, Jente; Ydenberg, Ronald C.; Van Hooft, Pim; Van Wieren, Sipke E.; Prins, Herbert H. T. (October 2015). "The Avian Hybrids Project: gathering the scientific literature on avian hybridization". Ibis. 157 (4): 892–894. doi: 10.1111/ibi.12285 . ISSN   1474-919X.
  2. ↑ Ottenburghs, Jente (14 June 2019). "Multispecies hybridization in birds". Avian Research. 10: 20. doi: 10.1186/s40657-019-0159-4 . ISSN   2053-7166.
  3. ↑ Kross, Jennifer. "Waterfowl Hybrids". Ducks Unlimited. Retrieved 4 December 2018.
  4. ↑ Cannings, Russell (March 2012). "Identifying Hybrid & Immature Gulls in Coastal B.C." (PDF). Birds Canada/Oiseaux Canada. Birds Studies Canada/Études des Oiseaux. Retrieved 4 December 2018.
  5. ↑ Kaufman, Kenn (20 April 2018). "Which Birds Produce the Most Hybrids?". Audubon. Retrieved 4 December 2018.
  6. ↑ "Hybrid Species of Bird of Paradise or Cendrawasih | Beauty of Birds". www.beautyofbirds.com. Retrieved 2018-12-04.
  7. ↑ "Mottled Duck Overview, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology". www.allaboutbirds.org. Retrieved 2018-12-04.
  8. ↑ "Hawaiian Duck - Introduction". Birds of North America Online, birdsna.org. Retrieved 2018-12-04.
  9. ↑ Appleton, Dave (2014-06-05). "Bird Hybrids: Western Gull × Glaucous-winged Gull". Bird Hybrids. Retrieved 2018-12-04.
  10. ↑ says, It’s complicated: Hybrid hummingbirds in Mexico-Avian Hybrids (2014-12-12). "Apodiformes". Avian Hybrids. Retrieved 2018-12-04.
  11. ↑ "westtexashummingbirds.com: Hybrids" . Retrieved 2018-12-04.
  12. ↑ GrrlScientist (9 November 2018). "Scientists Discover A Rare Bird That's A Hybrid Of Three Different Species". Forbes. Retrieved 4 December 2018.
  13. ↑ Jehl, J. R. Jr. (1985). "Hybridization and evolution of oystercatchers on the Pacific Coast of Baja California". Ornithological Monographs. 36 (36): 484–504. doi:10.2307/40168300. JSTOR   40168300.
  14. ↑ Jonsson, Lars (1996). "Mystery stint at Groote Keeten: First known hybrid between Little and Temminck's Stint?". Dutch Birding . 18: 24–28.
  15. ↑ McCarthy, Eugene M. (2006). Handbook of Avian Hybrids of the World. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press. p. 170. ISBN   978-0-19-518323-8.
  16. ↑ McLaughlin K. A.; Wormington, A. (2000). "An apparent Dunlin × White-rumped Sandpiper hybrid". Ontario Birds. 18 (1): 8–12.
  17. ↑ Millington, Richard (1994). "A mystery Calidris at Cley". Birding World . 7 (2): 61–63. Archived from the original on 2004-06-17.
  18. ↑ Parker, Shane A. (1982). "A new sandpiper of the genus Calidris". South Australian Naturalist. 56: 63.
  19. ↑ Paulson, Dennis R. (2005). Shorebirds of North America: a photographic guide. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press. ISBN   978-0-691-12107-9.
  20. ↑ Pierce, R. J. (1984). "Plumage, morphology and hybridisation of New Zealand Stilts Himantopus spp" (PDF). Notornis. 31: 106–130. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-10-24.
  21. ↑ "The National British Bird & Mule Club" . Retrieved 18 January 2018.
  22. ↑ "Hybrid Macaws & Mutations | Beauty of Birds".
  23. ↑ "These Are the 21 Types of Hybrid Macaws".
  24. ↑ Ottenburghs, Jente. "The Avian Hybrids Project". Avian Hybrids. Retrieved 2018-07-21.
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