Suppose two bird species live in a forest and are not known to interbreed. One species feeds and mates in the treetops and the other on the ground. But in captivity, the birds can interbreed and produce viable, fertile offspring. What type of reproductive barrier most likely keeps these species separate in nature? Explain.

The field of ecology defines interbreeding as a process of mating in which genetic factors come together by mixing members of two distinct subspecies resulting in producing a hybrid organism.

The reproductive barrier is the mechanism in which there is a restriction between successful reproductions among organisms of two distinct populations.

The fertile or viable hybrid living organism will not be produced due to prevention by the reproductive barrier.

The pre-and post-zygotic barriers are considered as two distinct reproductive barriers.

When the two bird species are present in a similar environment but reside in different areas, and both cannot meet and reproduce, this is due to their habitat isolation.

The difference in their (bird species) habitat preferences results from the pre-zygotic barrier (mechanism preventing reproduction) resulting from habitat isolation.