Hybrid birds?

[Wild-Woman]

I know this is bit of a daft question, but can wild birds ever cross-breed. I know domestic ducks can. Has there ever been a recorded case? Just curious.WW

[Gill Catton]

Originally Posted by Wild-Woman

I know this is bit of a daft question, but can wild birds ever cross-breed. I know domestic ducks can. Has there ever been a recorded case? Just curious.WW

Yes they can, there's a whole page in my collins guide devoted to tufted, pochard, ringnecked duck crosses. Also with the large gulls the herring, lesser black-backed and yellow-legged are quite closely related and I think when these species are on the edge of their range they sometimes pair up with predominant race of the area. Im not so sure about smaller passerines though.

[wildone]

Not just domestic ducks. Many Wildfowl interbreed including Pochard, Tufted Duck, Scaup and of course Ruddy Duck with the White headed Duck in Spain

[Wild-Woman]

Thanks for your replies. Quite surprising answer really. Would they be able to go on to breed? Wondered whether they'd be like a mule in the bird world.ww