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Spawn of a hybrid swarm?
..........A bizarre title for an undoubtedly beautiful bird.

Abuko is a small forest reserve in The Gambia which holds some Savanna woodland and an enclave of very rich moist Gallery forest.
African Paradise Flycatchers prefer drier Savanna woodland whilst the closely related Red-bellied Paradise Flycatcher prefers rain forest and moist Gallery forest. Normally these birds are separated by their habitat preference but at Abuko the species mix, interact and hybridise. The resulting hybrids are fully fertile and so breed with each other but also back-cross with the original two "parent" species producing what is termed a "hybrid swarm".

Here is the Wikipedia definition of a hybrid swarm: "A hybrid swarm is a population of hybrids that has survived beyond the initial hybrid generation, with interbreeding between hybrid individuals and backcrossing with its parent types. Such population are highly variable, with the genetic and phenetic characteristics of individuals ranging widely between the two parent types. Hybrid swarms thus blur the boundary between the parent taxa".
Habitat
Gallery Forest
Location
Abuko, The Gambia
Date taken
07/12/09
Scientific name
Terpsiphone viridis x rufiventer
Equipment used
Canon 7D + 500mm IS lens + 1.4x TC + tripod
Supporter
What a gorgeous image this is Steve. I think I would have thought I had died and gone to heaven if I came across this one.

Also a very informative description.
 
Beautiful bird, and super detailed image Steve, and some fine info, good work mate.
 
Abuko must be the Paradise itself, WOW!!! o:) Spectacular guy and picture of it, Steve!!!!!! :clap: :clap:
 
Absolutely superb Steve !!!I have a shot of thid bird or one just like it, I was nearly going to post it tonight but I think I will wait a while ;-))
 
WOW Steve WOW such a gorgeous one, a friend of mine told me that she saw one in her garden here in Jeddah and kept on seeing it, she also saw me a shot, was poor one but it is the male alright. LOL wish they do survive well and become common here. they are resident in the southern heights of Arabia.
 
Gorgeous image of this beautiful bird and great information to go with it, many thanks for sharing
 

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Category
Africa
Added by
Steve G
Date added
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Comment count
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