Papers in the Biological Sciences
Date of this Version
1968
Abstract
Prestwich (1960) and Gray (1958) have concluded, mirroring Delacour and Mayr (1945) and Seth-Smith (1922), that the Mandarin Duck is unable to hybridize, even with its nearest living relative the Wood Duck. After reviewing the literature, however, I listed (1960) the Mandarin Duck as having probably hybridized with the Wood Duck, and also mentioned the possibility of hybridization with one or more species of Anas. Since then I have been hopeful that actual specimens of Mandarin Duck hybrids might be located to substantiate this vulnerable position, and it is now possible to report on some probable hybrids.
Comments
Published in Bulletin of the British Ornithologists Club 88 (1968), pp. 140-148.