1 Topic by stevemcbill

  • stevemcbill
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Topic: Hybrids ??

Chris,

Can I ask what is the current thinking on the inclusion or non-inclusion of hybrid/crosses in the Dictionary ??

My reason for asking is that for the past 5 years I have had Goldfinch crosses coming to the garden feeders - small numbers, never more than 2 each year.  There has been one this morning and I have posted a photo on Facebook.  It generated some interest but no solid identification (so far).  Suggestions have been Goldfinch x Greenfinch, Goldfinch x Siskin and Goldfinch x Redpoll.  However, it made me wonder whether such hybrids are noted within the UKSI and the Recorder family.  Having checked in the UKSI (http://nbn-sd-dev.nhm.ac.uk/taxonbrowse … =Goldfinch) I see they are not.

Cheers and thanks.
Steve

Steve J. McWilliam
www.rECOrd-LRC.co.uk
www.stevemcwilliam.co.uk/guitar/

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2 Reply by charliebarnes

  • charliebarnes
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Re: Hybrids ??

[If they are to be added, I suggest perusing the Handbook of avian hybrids of the world - available as a PDF http://spinus.info/Images/books/AH743697479746.pdf - a fascinating read, and it's only 601 pages long!]

Charlie Barnes
Information Officer
Greater Lincolnshire Nature Partnership

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3 Reply by ChrisR

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Re: Hybrids ??

Hi Steve

With plants hybrids are just a normal recording concept and we have loads but I think with birds it is a much rarer thing for people to record - just a cultural thing in the different recording communities. One of the problems, I guess, is that it is so difficult to actually know for sure what the parents are - as with yours. I'd be happy to add them if we could get a definitive ID for your birds, they're rather spectacular creatures :)

Best wishes,
Chris R.

Chris Raper, Manager of the UK Species Inventory, Angela Marmont Centre for UK Biodiversity,
Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD.  (tel: 020 7942 5894)
also Tachinid Recording Scheme (http://tachinidae.org.uk/)

4 Reply by stevemcbill (edited by stevemcbill 16-03-2016 17:18:20)

  • stevemcbill
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Re: Hybrids ??

Chris,

Do you happen to know if ALL of the hybrid plant names from Stace, Preston & Pearman's book "Hybrid Flora of the British Isles" have been incorporated within the UKSI and beyond ???

http://www.summerfieldbooks.com/hybrid- … isles~4789

Cheers,
Steve

Steve J. McWilliam
www.rECOrd-LRC.co.uk
www.stevemcwilliam.co.uk/guitar/

stevemcbill's Website

5 Reply by stevemcbill

  • stevemcbill
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Re: Hybrids ??

Chris,

Perhaps sometime over the next 30 years we may all be using one of these:  http://www.bento.bio/  - and then perhaps we can get many of the currently 'unknown' hybrids into the UKSI ???

See the discussion on this item over at:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/1884374 … ment_reply

Cheers,
Steve

Steve J. McWilliam
www.rECOrd-LRC.co.uk
www.stevemcwilliam.co.uk/guitar/

stevemcbill's Website

6 Reply by ChrisR

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Re: Hybrids ??

Hi Steve

I would guess that not everything is in the UKSI (I don't have a copy so I'm not sure but I can check when I'm back in the office) but I will add anything that people request, if they have records waiting to go into the system. :)

The issue of using DNA will cause no end of debate and potential headaches :)  We had all kinds of issues with photos of orchid hybrids in the Orchid Observers project because it was incredibly difficult in some cases to be able to say what the parents were without actually seeing the parent species growing in the same area.

Best wishes,
Chris R.

Chris Raper, Manager of the UK Species Inventory, Angela Marmont Centre for UK Biodiversity,
Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD.  (tel: 020 7942 5894)
also Tachinid Recording Scheme (http://tachinidae.org.uk/)

7 Reply by stevemcbill

  • stevemcbill
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Re: Hybrids ??

Thanks Chris.

Yes, I think you are correct about the potential debate and problematic issues which will be thrown up by DNA sequencing - interesting times !!!

Cheers,
Steve

Steve J. McWilliam
www.rECOrd-LRC.co.uk
www.stevemcwilliam.co.uk/guitar/

stevemcbill's Website