Hybridisation between the Common Buzzard Buteo buteo buteo and the North African race of Long-legged Buzzard Buteo rufinus cirtensis in the Strait of Gibraltar: prelude or preclude to colonisation?

• Published in: Ostrich Vol. 84; no. 1; pp. 41 - 45
• Main Authors: Elorriaga, Javier, Muñoz, Antonio-Román
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Johannesburg Taylor & Francis Group 01.03.2013; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: allopatry; birds of prey; Buteo; Buteo buteo; Buteo buteo buteo; Buteo rufinus; Buteo rufinus cirtensis; buzzard; Climate change; Flowers & plants; hybridisation; hybrids; introgression; monitoring; Morocco; Offspring; phylogeny; progeny; Spain; Strait of Gibraltar; Morocco; Spain
• ISSN: 1727-947X; 0030-6525; 1727-947X
• DOI: 10.2989/00306525.2013.772922

Natural hybridisation in Old World buzzards (Buteo) is an uncommon phenomenon with important ecological implications. This genus constitutes an intricate radiation of genetically poorly differentiated raptors whose taxonomic classification is a frequent subject of debate. We report the first case of successful hybridisation between the African subspecies of the Long-legged Buzzard Buteo rufinus cirtensis and Common Buzzard Buteo buteo buteo in a new contact zone in the Strait of Gibraltar (southern Spain). The hybrid offspring showed mixed characters from parental species indicating that, among others, hybridisation could explain the increasing presence of phenotypically odd reddish buzzards in southern Spain and northern Morocco. Given their close phylogenetic relation and their recently reduced allopatry, an increase in the hybridisation rate, fertile descendants and genetic introgression seem to be viable. We identify the potential contact zones where genetic monitoring is needed to gain insight on the real extent of this hybridisation and its possible effects on the current climate change scenario.