The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #117970   Message #2546191
Posted By: pdq
22-Jan-09 - 12:45 PM
Thread Name: BS: can blackbirds mate with thrushes
Subject: RE: BS: can blackbirds mate with thrushes
Just to make things clear, the Common Blackbird of Europe is in the genus Turdus and so is the American Robin.

The group if birds American call "blackbids" are in another family: Icteridae.

Hybridization within a genus is not rare. Between gerera, less common and unlikely to produce fertile offspring. Between groups holding different taxonomic levels called "families", rare and almost certain to produce no fertile progeny.