There is a large flock of little corellas that squawks around the Southern
Highlands of NSW. Amongst them are a few long-billed corellas. In addition
there are a few individuals with intermediate length bills of various sizes
and some colour variations (including pink). Peter Dewey and I are wondering
if these are hybrids between the little and long-billed corellas. The only
peer reviewed reference we can find is (Ford, J (1985) Emu 85, 163-180) who
did not find evidence of such hybridisation, but considered that the
long-billed corella was still evolving. The aviculture literature, however,
refers to hybridisation between long-billed corellas and galahs (or Major
Mitchell cockatoos) to enhance colouring; hybridisation with little corellas
is not mentioned. In the Southern Highlands flock, are we seeing (a)
hybridisation between little and long-billed corellas, (b) hybridisation
between long-billed corellas and galahs (occasional pink colouration
suggests this), or (c) a morphological range in the genetically unstable
long-billed corellas (not all the intermediate billed individuals show pink
colouration). Or all or some of the above! We'd appreciate comments and
discussion!
Simon R Robinson
BUNDANOON NSW 2578
Phone:+61 2 4883 7186| Mobile: 0412 252 177
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