Can Wood Ducks and Mandarins hybridize?

[tonini3059]

I did a search and nothing came up so I figured I would ask, can the two species mate and produce eggs. My reason for asking is because I have a flock of wild ducks that contain both mandarins and woodies. I am concerned that the woodies may pair up with the mandarins or vice versa, instead of with their own species and not give me species specific eggs. I do believe that they will not however since I have seen them in mixed collections before and have not heard of any problems. Thanks in advance.

 

[1lpoock]

This is from Acorn Hollow Bantams:
In case you are wondering whether such closely related species as the Mandarin and Wood Duck will cross, the answer is yes and no. They will freely mate with one another but the eggs from such unions are almost always infertile. Reports exist of hybrids but evidently usually turn out to be pure but poor specimens of one or the other specie that just look like crosses.

 

[1lpoock]

Here is a very nice page with pics of all different hybrids.....
http://www.harteman.nl/omnibus/index.html just click on The little u.s. flag and then click hybrids

And another quote

For hybrids to arise the two birds must either accept one another or the male must rape the hen.
For acceptance, the hen must be imprinted to at least some extent on the wrong species - easily achieved in captivity if species are reared from very shortly after hatching in multi-species groups. Also these hybrids are very rare.​

 

[tonini3059]

Thanks for the info. The mandarins and woodies seem to be paired with their respective species, and do not seem to care for the others. So based on what you have said I think I will be okay. I figured that they would produce infertile eggs if they were to interbreed, but again, this would not matter to me. My main concern is having them mate with their own species so that I can get viable, species specific eggs.

 

[1lpoock]

Yep me too. My wood ducks seem to keep to themselves and the same with the mandarins. Sometimes the female mandarin will nip at the wood ducks if they get too close, other times she wont. I think mine are bonded and neither of us should have problems...Have any news yet on that egg you found?

 

[tonini3059]

Yeah mine do the same thing, they tend to get a little testy towards eachother, which is a good thing I suppose. I am not sure about the egg. The wife just told me about finding another one today, so I do not believe it is the Japanese or the silkie since both are broody and it wasn't close to either. Both are under a hen now so if they are fertile we may find out what it is in a few weeks. I have not had a chance to look at it since I am at work but will examine it when I get home. From what she tells me though I think it may be a mandarin egg. However that is purely speculative since I have not the slightest idea what the eggs of the other ducks look like.

 

[DuckyBoys]

All I can say about the subject is how mine behave and that is - my wood ducks want NOTHING to do with any other breeds in there. The mandarins will at least chit-chat with the others but the woodies keep to themselves. They have no intention of breeding with anyone other than their mates.