What term describes the intermediate birds formed where sapsucker species ranges overlap?
Answer
Hybrids or intergrades
When the ranges of closely related species that have diverged meet, the resulting offspring often exhibit characteristics intermediate between the parent species. In the case of the sapsuckers, where the ranges of the Yellow-bellied, Red-naped, and Red-breasted species converge, particularly in areas like the Rocky Mountains, ornithologists observe the appearance of what are termed 'hybrids' or 'intergrades.' The prevalence of these intermediate forms suggests that the evolutionary barriers separating the three groups are porous, indicating ongoing gene flow rather than fully established speciation.
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