birding-aus

Hybrid ?

To: "birding-aus" <>
Subject: Hybrid ?
From: "Tony Russell" <>
Date: Fri, 9 Jul 2004 15:09:19 +0930
Hi all, the unusual duck currently at Werribee is thought to be either a very rare Baer's Pochard or an unusual hybrid of Hardhead crossed with a Chestnut Teal. I guess we are all waiting with bated breath to hear the conclusion finally drawn by the experts.
In the meantime I'd like to point out that if it is indeed a hybrid, it's a cross between an Anas and an Aythya, two different duck species.
 
We all know about Mallards crossing with Pacific Blacks, an Anas with an Anas, ducks in the same family grouping, but is there any information regarding how frequently this type of cross species hybridization occurs ? 
 
(Maybe animals are more like humans than we realise, they'll take anything if they are desperate enough !)
 
Curious.
 
Tony.
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