Description of intermediate phenotypes between Passer hispaniolensis and Passer domesticus

TL;DRAbstract

Although large-scale hybridization between the House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) and the Spanish Sparrow (P. hispaniolensis) is now considered to be a thing of the past by some authors (MEISE, 1936; JOHNSTON, 1969), others suggest that the present situation of phenotypical heterogeneity in N-Africa could be wnsidered as a temporal phase in the process of ecological segregation (SUMMERS-SMITH & VERNON, 1972). Occassional hybnds have been cited for several localities around the Mediterranean Sea (referentes in SUMMERS-SMITH & VERNON, 1972, and BAUMGART & STEPHAN, 1974). Referentes to possible hybnds in Iberia are scarce (VALVERDE, unpubl.; BERNIS, 1967; and one doubtful case in SACARRAO, 1973). In this paper we describe the plumages and measurements of some intermediate phenotypes housed in the collection of the Estacion Biologica de Donana or caught during a study of the biology of the Spanish Sparrow in Iberia (ALONSO, 1982).

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