Re: Baer's Pochard

[Peter Fullagar <>]

For those interested in hybrid ducks I suggest you might consult Annie P. Gray Bird Hybrids. A checklist and bibliography; 390pp. This book is somewhat out of date in that it was published in 1958 by the Commonwealth Agriculture Bureaux, England  as a Technical Communication No.13.  All the same, it is still very useful on all matters concerning hybridization in birds. Unfortunately, I suspect that it is hard to track down in libraries. It was this book along with my own research on museum specimens held in several Australian Museums that formed the backbone to the section I wrote for HANZAB quoted by Rohan Clarke! I had wanted to expand on this topic but space was limited, as always with HANZAB.  

In answer to Tim. Yes, Red-breasted Merganser x Mallard  is claimed and so is Goosander x Mallard with more certainty and 'probably in both directions'.

It has occurred to me that one possibility for the odd looking duck shown in the picture posted by Vin Lam is that it might be a Bluebill x Hardhead cross. The bill shape on the pictured duck is extraordinary. The hybrid Ruddy Duck x Scaup has been reported (male Scaup).

Please, while I have your attenion, may I make a plea for the spelling of Shoveler. Idiosyncratically, but for good historical reasons, it only has one l!


Peter Fullagar

On 09/07/2004, at 6:29 PM, Tim Murphy wrote:

> I must admit to extreme ignorance in what hybrids are possible. Can someone
> tell us?  How far across phylogeny can a viable offspring occur. Inside
> genera yes but outside genera and inside family? (Yes I know these are
> artificial)?
>
> I once saw a bird in British Columbia which had the marks of a Mallard /
> Merganser cross which I would have thought pretty unrelated - still Sibley
> and Alquist place them in the same Tribe and Sub-family.
>
> Regards
>
> Tim Murphy
>
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