I've now spent some internet time on this and have discovered that the
Wood Duck comes in second to the Mallard in the total number of
different species it has been known to cross breed with........26.

What may be a factor is that the Hooded Merganser is "different" from
the rest of the mergansers, and the Wood Duck is not really a dabbler,
but is now put in the group of perching ducks.

I still want to see a DNA test.

Larry Schwitters
Issaquah
On Feb 11, 2009, at 9:36 PM, ROBERT L BOGGS wrote:

> According to Handbook of Avian Hybrids of the World, by Eugene
> McCarthy, on page 69, there are 2 species of accounts of this mix.
>
> They are "NHR" "Natural hybridization reported. Hybridization has
> been reported to occur under natural circumstances".
>
> Also: "BRO" "Breeding range overlap".
>
> JRagland
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