Summary
An analysis is made of hybridization between the House SparrowPasser domesticus and Tree SparrowP. montanus based on a long-term breeding study in Spain and a survey of the published literature. The field study, in which hybrids were detected by phenotypes, gave a rate of hybridization close to 1:500. The majority of literature records of hybrids between these species are from areas where one is uncommon; there is no evidence for natural cross-fostering. We suggest that mate restriction is the most likely reason for mixed-pair formation and hybridization in these sparrows.
Zusammenfassung
Die Hybridisation zwischen Haus- und Feldsperling wurde in einer langfristigen brutbiologischen Studie in Spanien und auf der Grundlage eines Literaturüberblicks untersucht. In der Freilandstudie, bei der Bastarde phänotypisch registriert wurden, ergab sich eine Hybridisierungsrate nahe 1:500. Die Mehrzahl der Literaturangaben stammt von Gebieten, in denen eine Art nicht häufig ist (Appendix). Hinweise für Aufzucht von Jungen der jeweiligen anderen Art ergaben sich nicht. Sicher ist Partnermangel die wahrscheinlichste Ursache für Mischpaare und Verbastardierung beider Sperlingsarten.
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Cordero, P.J., Summers-Smith, J.D. Hybridization between House and Tree Sparrow (Passer domesticus,P. montanus). J Ornithol 134, 69–77 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01661134
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01661134