Down here in SW Florida where I live, Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) freely hybridize with Mottled Duck (Anas fulvigula) to the point where "pure" Mallards are becoming a rarity and "pure" Mottled Ducks are becoming increasingly uncommon as well. Now Florida does get Black Duck (Anas rubripes), primarily in North Florida but they are not common. Since all three species are very close genetically, I was wondering if there exists the problem of Mallard X American Black Duck hybridization in your part of the US like that between Mallard X Mottled Duck here in Florida? Feel free to answer off-list unless you think that others might be interested in your response. Thanks. Vince Vincent Lucas Naples, FL [log in to unmask] http://www.flickr.com/photos/leppyone/ http://www.caloosabirdclub.org ______________________________________________________________________ Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at www.ohiobirds.org/forum/. You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]