Scientists Discover First Known Hybrid Bird Species In The Amazon Rainforest

A hybrid species forms when two parental species mate to produce a hybrid population, which then stops being able to freely interbreed with the parental species. In this case the two parents are the snow-capped manakin, named for its bright snowy-white crown feathers, and the opal-crowned manakin, named for its brilliant iridescent crown feathers. Researchers gathered genetic and feather samples over two separate field trips to Brazil.