Goth Mallards

tWITCH · #1 (**permalink**) 05-03-2011, 04:40 PM

Hello all

I call upon the collective wildlife oracle yet again

The more I birdwatch the more hybrids I see, mainly ducks (must be more promiscuous) well I've seen something new today. Looks like mallards in shape and feature but was dark in colour (whats the word whats the word) iridescent
on more then just the head.

I take it this is a Mallard hybrid.

I would appreciate your comments

aeshna5 · #2 (**permalink**) 05-03-2011, 04:48 PM

Not strictly hybrids as no species other than domestic strains of Mallard involved here.

tWITCH · #3 (**permalink**) 05-03-2011, 05:17 PM

Now I'm going to make myself look really stupid but I need further explaination.

I don't get it! I know I'm being daft but ...

aeshna5 · #4 (**permalink**) 05-03-2011, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tWITCH

Now I'm going to make myself look really stupid but I need further explaination.

I don't get it! I know I'm being daft but ...

Hybrids are usually referred to as crosses between two (or more in some plants) species.

Mallards are the ancestors of all breeds of domestic duck (with the exception of the Muscovy Duck), so any crosses between domestic strains with other breeds or wild ancestors aren't strictly hybrids.

A hybrid would be where a Mallard successfully interbreeds with another species of duck. Mallard have been recording with a large variety of other species, though I've rarely seen such hybrids.

Hope that helps a little more?

tWITCH · #5 (**permalink**) 06-03-2011, 06:41 AM

Well in that case I think I've seen one hybrid and tonnes of crossed strains.

Thanks

sunnydale · #6 (**permalink**) 06-03-2011, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tWITCH

Well in that case I think I've seen one hybrid and tonnes of crossed strains.

They are still nice looking birds though....

Gill Catton · #7 (**permalink**) 06-03-2011, 09:08 AM

Think of it in terms of horses, cross a racehorse with an carthorse and the offspring is still a horse, it might have some of the traits of both its parents but its still a horse but considered a crossbreed. (instead of a pedigree if both parents were a racehorse). Crossbreed animals are fertile and able to breed still with other horses.

But cross a horse with a donkey and you get a mule - that's a hybrid then and such animals are often sterile.

Its something that happen a lot in ducks both crossbreeding and hybrids (though the former is more common than the latter).