Extensive hybridization reveals multiple coloration genes underlying a complex plumage phenotype
Sequence read data for red-shafted flickers, yellow-shafted flickers, and natural hybrids between the two, and a reference genome for yellow-shafted flickers. Red-shafted and yellow-shafted flickers are part of the northern flicker species (Colaptes auratus). Hybridization was leveraged in this study to associate genotypes with phenotypes for distinct plumage patches that differ between the two subspecies.