Cross Birds....

[ogwen]

This may seem the daftest question of the year so far, or might have been asked before but can two different breedsof bird reproduce such as a robin and a dunik? Is it possible at all?

[aeshna5]

High improbable as they are not closely related; they are in 2 different families.

[RoyW]

It is highly unlikely for Robin and Dunnock (and I have certainly seen no suggestion that this have ever taken place in print!).

There are quite a lot of verified cases of birds of different species hybridising both in the wild and in captivity though (it's more common in captivity where suitable mates of the same species may not be available - deliberately in some cases where breeders are trying to produce hybrids (often referred to as 'mules' in songbirds).
Ducks and other wildfowl seem particularly able to produce hybrids, often hybrids between two different genera. Most often, when hybrids do occur, they are between two closely related species within the same genus though (the first part of the scientific name will be the same - eg. hybrids sometimes occur between Tufted Duck, Aythya fuligula and Scaup, Aythya marila).
As Aeshna has said, Robin and Dunnock are not even in the same family - yet alone the same genus!

[ogwen]

Hehe only used those two as an example, I mostly meant is there any evidence to suggest any type birds would create a hybrid (Knew there was a word for it and not cross birds lol)
Thats very interesting though, I guess bird breeders would do it to produce "prettier" songbirds for the pet industry?

But yeah thanks for that

[Jim Ford]

I seem to remember a cross between a Goldfinch and Canary being called a Canary Mule.

Jim

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by Jim Ford

I seem to remember a cross between a Goldfinch and Canary being called a Canary Mule.

Jim

Canaries are crossed with various finches to produce mules.

Falconers also produce an array of hybrids too.

As Roy mentions hybrids are not uncommon amongst various duck species. In captivity hybrids are not unusual amongst various geese species + similarly various pheasant hybrids, such as Golden x Lady Amherst's.