Hybridization, when it occurs, generally occurs between sibling species,
closely related species that recently, geologically speaking, descended
from a common ancestor. Think blue-winged and golden-winged warblers, as
well as spotted and eastern towhees, crosses of which produce fertile
hybrids.

Gray squirrels are in the genus *Sciurus*, which includes among other
species fox squirrels (*Sciurus niger*), a larger, more orange version of
the gray. Fox squirrels are a Midwest and Southeast species; they
occasionally hybridize with gray squirrels. Red squirrels do not. They are
in a different genus, *Tamiasciurus, *and thus more remotely related to
gray squirrels*. *Squirrels are all in the same family, *Sciuridae, *which
also includes woodchucks, ground squirrels, and chipmunks*.*


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