A new study has narrowed down the region of the genome that drives the black color in throat and face of warblers by studying the hybrid offspring produced when two species mate.
A new study has narrowed down the region of the genome that drives the black color in throat and face of warblers by studying the hybrid offspring produced when two species mate. The hybrids of golden-winged and blue-winged warblers have a mix of coloration from the parent species, which allows researchers to identify which regions of the genome are associated with which color patterns. The study, led by researchers at Penn State, also reveals a more complex basis for the amount of yellow in warbler bellies and raises concerns about how hybrids of these species are classified.
Their results appear online in the journal The Auk: Ornithological Advances.
“The distinct plumage of these otherwise very similar birds has perplexed ornithologists for more than a hundred years,” said Marcella Baiz, postdoctoral researcher at Penn State and first author of the paper. “Our research team previously compared the genomes of golden-winged and blue-winged warblers and identified 6 regions that differed between them, some of which may control color. In this study, we used hybrid birds of these species, which mix and match the features of their parent species, to help identify which regions of the genome are associated with which color patterns.”
Read more at Penn State
Image: While blue-winged warblers have predominantly yellow underparts, golden-winged warblers have white bellies and a black throat patch and face mask. Hybrid offspring of blue-winged and golden-winged warblers have a mix of coloration from the two parent species. (Credit: David Toews, Penn State)
