Cross breed birds...?

Question

Does anyone know why wild birds don't cross breed?

We have so many cross breed dogs and cats, why don't we ever see a magpie x kookaburra, or an eagle x chicken? lol.

Would love to know why if anyone knows?

:)

Answer 1

Birds stay within their own species, they simply are not attracted to a different type of bird.  Macaws will mate with different type and color Macaws.  I believe Lovebirds will also do the same.

Answer 2

Domestic dogs are all the same species just different breeds, the same goes for domestic cats.  Birds on the other hand both domestic and wild are many different species.  While some species are close enough to cross breed (Scarlett  macaws and Blue and  Gold macaws for example)  given the choice they will almost always choose to mate with a member of their own species.  However in captive situations where no suitable mate of their own species exists they will sometimes mate with members of other species and if the species are close enough they will produce viable offspring who are most often infertile.   The same thing is true of some of the various species of large cats by the way.

Edit: In the wild were there are plenty of members of their own species, no they will not generally try to mate with members of other species.  For any species the biological imperative is survival of the species through reproduction and mating with members of other species is a waste of time and engergy, and in the case of the few species that can produce viable off spring resources.  

In captivity where suitable members of their own species is not avaliable yes birds of diffrent species who are not genetically compatable but fairly similar (ie various species of finches, tiels and budiges)   with each other etc may attempt to make but will not produce viable off spring.   In many cases the female will often lay infertile eggs and pair may sit them just like a normal pair of the same species.  

However birds that are significanly diffrent will not try to mate, (ie a mccaw and a finch  or to use on of your examples an eagle and a chicken)

Also additionally in a captive situation where suitable mates are not avalaible or even in a wild population where there is a signifacant difference in the number of males verses the number of females you may have members of the same s*x form a bonded pair and nest during nesting season.   If both birds are female they will also generally lay eggs and sit them.

Answer 3

Macaws and conures hybridize alot because some of the sub-species are so much alike...like sun and jenday conures ( hybrid sunday)...or blue and gold and scarlet (hybrid catalina). They do this in the wild sometimes, especially if they can't find an acceptable mate of their own sub-species. In the late 90's the last spix macaw (male) in the wild of course was unable to find a mate- he was the only one left.  He paired up with a female Illiger's macaw ( a mini-macaw) and they went to nest. They laid several clutches of eggs, none were fertile. Birds have a strong sense of producing to carry on their genes, if they can't find a mate they hybridize, but it dosen't always work.

Answer 4

Birds aren`t attracted to other species of birds, and dont try to mate with other species. Even if they did try, the birds you listed are species very different from each other biologically, and will not produce any offspring if mating does occur by some wild accident. All dogs and cats are the same species and can all breed.