Outdoor Ontario

Discussion => Behaviour => Topic started by: Bluffs Birder on January 25, 2010, 12:41:51 PM

Title: Hybrid Mallards
Post by: Bluffs Birder on January 25, 2010, 12:41:51 PM

The following is an extract from "10000birds.com":

Our good friend the Mallard tends to hybridize more than any other duck, and has hybridized with at least 50 other species of ducks and geese. Aside from being apparently a naturally curious and sexually experimental soul, the explanation for the Mallard’s proclivity for hybridization probably stems from a number of factors - it is abundant throughout much of the northern hemisphere, it has many close relatives (many ducks in the genus Anas are genetically closely-related and appear to have only ’split’ (separated) from each other historically quite recently), and in urban settings like city parks where Mallards are often resident there is sometimes an oversupply of males who are ready to turn their undoubted energies towards females of whichever species happen to come too close…

Walter

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Post by: Moira on January 25, 2010, 03:51:37 PM

Not sure if you're trying to be ... but this is actually quite funny (and yet educational).

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Post by: denis on January 25, 2010, 05:20:25 PM

thanks walter.
this could be a series.

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Post by: Bluffs Birder on January 25, 2010, 08:08:40 PM

Hi Moira,

I posted the above as an educational helper but yes you are correct, it's hilarious.  There's a lot of room for comment but I ain't goin' there!!!  :lol:

Walter