Genetic Evidence Supports Boreal Chickadee (Poecile hudsonicus) × Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) Hybridization in Atlantic Canada

Auteurs-es

  • Linda A. Lait Department of Biological Sciences, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta T1K 3M4
  • Randy F. Lauff Department of Biology, St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, Nova Scotia B2G 2W5
  • Theresa M. Burg Department of Biological Sciences, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta T1K 3M4

DOI :

https://doi.org/10.22621/cfn.v126i2.1330

Mots-clés :

Poecile hudsonicus, Boreal Chickadee, Poecile atricapillus, Black-capped Chickadee, hybridization, mitochondrial DNA, Z chromosomes, nuclear introns, Nova Scotia, Atlantic Canada

Résumé

Both morphological and genetic evidence support a hybridization event between a Boreal Chickadee (Poecile hudsonicus) and a Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) in Atlantic Canada. Plumage of the hybrid was intermediate to both parental species, with buffy sides and a dark brown cap on the head. Mitochondrial DNA control region showed the female lineage to be from a Boreal Chickadee, while Z-linked markers showed mixed Boreal Chickadee × Black-capped Chickadee heritage, likely representing an F1 hybrid. This is the first documented case of hybridization between these species in eastern North America, and it adds to the increasing evidence supporting intrageneric avian hybridization.
Cover photo - Western Yellow-breasted Chat (Icteria virens auricollis)

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Publié-e

2012-11-29

Numéro

Vol. 126 No. 2 (2012)

Rubrique

Articles

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