Egg-laying behaviour by shiny cowbirds parasitizing brown-and-yellow marshbirds
Article Abstract:
Shiny cowbirds lay two types of egs, white and spotted, and parasitize brown-and-yellow marshbirds. The marshbirds eject white eggs, accepting spotted eggs. Parasitic events are more likely to occur where more nests were available during laying, though a plateau can be observed with high nest availability. Female cowbirds synchronized their egg laying with the laying of hosts on four fifths of occasions observed. Most sites with more than one cowbird egg involved more than one cowbird female. One marshbird egg was lost on average for each parasitic event.
Publication Name: Animal Behaviour
Subject: Zoology and wildlife conservation
ISSN: 0003-3472
Year: 1999
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Why brown-headed cowbirds do not influence red-winged blackbird parent behaviour
Article Abstract:
The effect of brood parasitism on host parent and offspring behaviour in younger and older broods is compared. The results indicate that the presence of the cowbird in the nest affected neither the latency nor duration of host nestling begging, but stimulated more frequent begging by red-winged blackbird nestlings following food distribution.
Publication Name: Animal Behaviour
Subject: Zoology and wildlife conservation
ISSN: 0003-3472
Year: 2003
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Grasp-ejection in two small ejecters of cowbird eggs: a test of bill-size constraints and the evolutionary equilibrium hypothesis
Article Abstract:
The results of experiments investigating the ejection of parasitic eggs by vireos laid in their nests by the brown-headed cowbird (Molothrus ater) are presented.
Publication Name: Animal Behaviour
Subject: Zoology and wildlife conservation
ISSN: 0003-3472
Year: 2006
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