Hibridación silvestre entre Sirirí Pampa (Dendrocygna viduata) y Sirirí Colorado (D. bicolor)

Fabio Schunck; Marcelo Bokermann; Werner C.A. Bokermann

doi:10.56178/eh.v41i1.1536

Short Communications Published 26 June 2026 https://doi.org/10.56178/eh.v41i1.1536

Wild hybridization between White-faced (Dendrocygna viduata) and Fulvous (D. bicolor) Whistling Ducks

conservation field observations South America urban reservoirs whistling ducks

Fabio Schunck Independent Researcher. Av. Eugênio Bartolomai, 386, São Paulo, SP, 04785-040, Brazil

Marcelo Bokermann Reserva Natural do Sesc Bertioga. Avenida Francisco Soto Barreiro Filho 1117, Bertioga, SP, 11251-530, Brazil

Werner C.A. Bokermann Parque Zoológico de São Paulo, Av. Miguel Estéfano, 4241, São Paulo, SP, 04301-905, Brazil

Abstract

Wild hybridization between the White-faced Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna viduata) and the Fulvous Whistling Duck (D. bicolor) has been documented in South Africa, but there are few reports for the Americas. Here, we present seven such records for South America, five in Brazil and two in Argentina. The data show that this biological phenomenon occurs throughout the distribution of these species, but it is rare. The hybrids exhibit a general body pattern like that of the Fulvous Whistling Duck, while details of the head, neck, and wings are more like those of the White-faced Whistling Duck. These records document the occurrence, frequency, and distribution of hybridization among whistling ducks in the Southern Hemisphere, where reports remain scarce.

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References

AviList Core Team (2025) AviList: The Global Avian Checklist, v. 2025. https://doi.org/10.2173/avilist.v2025
Bokermann W (1985) Anilhamento de irerês (Dendrocygna viduata) no Zoo de São Paulo. 1o Encontro Nacional de Anilhadores de Aves. Universidade Federal de Viçosa, MG. Pp 68
Clark A (1974) Hybrid Dendrocygna viduata x Dendrocygna bicolor. Ostrich 45:255
Grant PR & Grant BR (1992) Hybridization of bird species. Science 256(5054):193-197. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.256.5054.193
Harebottle D & Vanderwalt B (2014) Hybridisation between White-faced and Fulvous Ducks in the wild: further evidence from South America. Ornithological Observations 5:17-21
McCarthy EM (2006) Handbook of Avian Hybrids of the World. Oxford University Press, New York
Ottenburghs J, Ydenberg RC, van Hooft P, Van Wieren SE & Prins HHT (2015) Hybrids between species are shaded in dark grey, while hybrids between subspecies are shaded in light grey. A distinction is made between hybridization in Nature and Captivity. [URL: https://avianhybrids.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/genus-dendrocygna.pdf]
Pinto OMO (1938) Catálogo das aves do Brasil e lista dos exemplares que as representam no Museu Paulista. 1a Parte. São Paulo. Secretaria da Agricultura. Departamento de Zoologia
São Paulo (município) (2024) Inventário da fauna silvestre do Município de São Paulo. Dados atualizados até 11 dez. 2023. Secretaria do Verde e do Meio Ambiente, Divisão da Fauna Silvestre. São Paulo. [URL: https://prefeitura.sp.gov.br/web/meio_ambiente/w/secretaria-do-verde-e-do-meio-ambiente-publica-invent%C3%A1rio-da-fauna-silvestre-2024]
Sick H (1997) Ornitologia brasileira. Nova Fronteira, Rio de Janeiro. Pp. 912
Winkler DW, Billerman SM & Lovette IJ (2020) Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl (Anatidae), version 1.0. In: Billerman SM, Keeney BK, Rodewald PG & Schulenberg TS (eds) Birds of the World, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.anatid1.01
Nascimento JLX, Scherer SB & Borsato ES (1990) Encontro de híbridos de Dendrocygna viduata e Dendrocygna bicolor em Santa Vitoria do Palmar. Pp. 78-79. Anais do VI Encontro Nacional de Anilhadores de Aves – ENAV

How to cite

Fabio Schunck, Marcelo Bokermann, Werner C.A. Bokermann (2026). Wild hybridization between White-faced (Dendrocygna viduata) and Fulvous (D. bicolor) Whistling Ducks. El Hornero, Vol. 41 No. 1 (2026), 161-165. https://doi.org/10.56178/eh.v41i1.1536

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[1] AviList Core Team (2025) AviList: The Global Avian Checklist, v. 2025. https://doi.org/10.2173/avilist.v2025

[2] Bokermann W (1985) Anilhamento de irerês (Dendrocygna viduata) no Zoo de São Paulo. 1o Encontro Nacional de Anilhadores de Aves. Universidade Federal de Viçosa, MG. Pp 68

[3] Clark A (1974) Hybrid Dendrocygna viduata x Dendrocygna bicolor. Ostrich 45:255

[4] Grant PR & Grant BR (1992) Hybridization of bird species. Science 256(5054):193-197. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.256.5054.193

[5] Harebottle D & Vanderwalt B (2014) Hybridisation between White-faced and Fulvous Ducks in the wild: further evidence from South America. Ornithological Observations 5:17-21

[6] McCarthy EM (2006) Handbook of Avian Hybrids of the World. Oxford University Press, New York

[7] Ottenburghs J, Ydenberg RC, van Hooft P, Van Wieren SE & Prins HHT (2015) Hybrids between species are shaded in dark grey, while hybrids between subspecies are shaded in light grey. A distinction is made between hybridization in Nature and Captivity. [URL: https://avianhybrids.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/genus-dendrocygna.pdf]

[8] Pinto OMO (1938) Catálogo das aves do Brasil e lista dos exemplares que as representam no Museu Paulista. 1a Parte. São Paulo. Secretaria da Agricultura. Departamento de Zoologia

[9] São Paulo (município) (2024) Inventário da fauna silvestre do Município de São Paulo. Dados atualizados até 11 dez. 2023. Secretaria do Verde e do Meio Ambiente, Divisão da Fauna Silvestre. São Paulo. [URL: https://prefeitura.sp.gov.br/web/meio_ambiente/w/secretaria-do-verde-e-do-meio-ambiente-publica-invent%C3%A1rio-da-fauna-silvestre-2024]

[10] Sick H (1997) Ornitologia brasileira. Nova Fronteira, Rio de Janeiro. Pp. 912

[11] Winkler DW, Billerman SM & Lovette IJ (2020) Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl (Anatidae), version 1.0. In: Billerman SM, Keeney BK, Rodewald PG & Schulenberg TS (eds) Birds of the World, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.anatid1.01

[12] Nascimento JLX, Scherer SB & Borsato ES (1990) Encontro de híbridos de Dendrocygna viduata e Dendrocygna bicolor em Santa Vitoria do Palmar. Pp. 78-79. Anais do VI Encontro Nacional de Anilhadores de Aves – ENAV