Can Owls and Societies Hybridize?

[Kiishka]

I tried searching the forum for this, and after two pages of scanning through results I thought I'd just post a new one- apologies if it's a duplicate!!

Is it possible for owls and societies to hybridize? All I've been able to find information on have been owl x zebra hybrids. I'm asking for two reasons:

1. I have an odd number of societies (three cocks, two hens) and Willow, my single female owl, who is their constant preening and snuggling buddy. Is there a danger of them hybridizing?

2. The wonderful lady I bought my finches from was going to sell me another owl once this latest batch fledged, but upon hatching she said they look odd and are possibly society x owl hybrids. The pair was in a cage with two male societies for fostering purposes, so it's either odd owl babies or hybrids- there's no other potential daddies. Sounds like an episode of Maury!!

Thanks for any help!

[lovezebs]

Kiishka
I honestly don't know, but it is an intriguing thought. I'll have to look it up, and see what I come up with.

If I find anything, I'll let you know.

~Elana~

[Sheather]

Societies and zebras can cross, and zebras and owls can cross, therefore owls and societies can almost certainly cross, but it's probably just not commonly seen. Species as divergent as diamond firetails and Java sparrows can hybridize.

[Kiishka]

Thanks for the quick reply! I'm still imagining this in my head and laughing!

[Colt]

Taken from the Finch Center

Can hybridize with other Lonchura spp., as well as parson finches and some other species outside of the Lonchura genus (to list a few: cut-throats [Amadina amadina], red-faced parrotfinches [Erythrura psittacea], red-cheeked cordon bleus [Uraeginthus bengala], and several Poephila spp). Therefore, be careful to avoid cross breeding your society finches. Because they are easy to cage breed and make excellent parents, society finches are the most popular choice for foster parents, and will often even raise several different species of finches in the same clutch. Bengalese finches appear to be shorter-lived than most other small birds, with an average life span of about 4 years.

I had no idea they could hybridize with waxbills like the Cordon Bleus. So I'd venture on a limb and say that it was possible...

[lovezebs]

Hi Kat

While reading here, there and everywhere, I came across several references to Bengalese (Societies) and Owl mixtures.

So in other words, these two can breed.

~Elana>

[Sheather]

Seems almost all members of the Estrildidae can cross in theory.