Great spotted cuckoos improve their reproductive success by damaging magpie host eggs
Article Abstract:
Adult great spotted cuckoos, Clamator glandarius, can improve their breeding success by damaging the eggs of the magpie, Pica pica, whose nests they use. Damaging the magpie eggs makes it more likely that cuckoo eggs laid late in the breeding season will hatch. It also limits numbers of competing host chicks in the nest. It is possible that damaging magpie eggs is used by the great spotted cuckoo as a way of increasing the cost of egg ejection as there are fewer magpie eggs in the nest. This behaviour also makes it more likely that great spotted cuckoo fledglings will obtain the largest proportion of the parental care of the magpie.
Publication Name: Animal Behaviour
Subject: Zoology and wildlife conservation
ISSN: 0003-3472
Year: 1997
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Females are responsible for ejection of cuckoo eggs in the rufous bush robin
Article Abstract:
Female rufous bush robins are responsible for ejection of cuckoo eggs. This was concluded in a test of which sex is responsible for egg ejection in the species through experimental parasitism of nests belonging to the same individuals in two consecutive years. It was found that the expected frequencies for rejection and acceptance did not differ from the observed frequencies when the same female owned both nests tested. When the same male owned both of the nests tested, however, the expected frequencies differed from observed frequencies.
Publication Name: Animal Behaviour
Subject: Zoology and wildlife conservation
ISSN: 0003-3472
Year: 1998
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Rejection of parasitic eggs in relation to egg appearance in magpies
Article Abstract:
The importance of the intraclutch variation in egg appearance in common magpies, Pica pica, was studied for the host discrimination against parasite eggs. According to the arms race hypothesis, the individuals that were able to recognize and reject cuckoo model eggs would have lower intraclutch variation than accepter individuals.
Publication Name: Animal Behaviour
Subject: Zoology and wildlife conservation
ISSN: 0003-3472
Year: 2004
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