Planet of Birds

Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) Science Article 6 abstract Egg discrimination is well documented in many hosts of avian brood parasites, but the proximate mechanisms of egg recognition and rejection decisions are poorly understood. Relevant in this respect is the observation that rejectors of parasite eggs often delay their response. This delay has implications for understanding mechanisms […]

Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) Science Article 2 abstract In a coevolutionary arms race between a brood parasite and its host, both species are expected to evolve adaptations and counteradaptations, such as egg mimicry and egg discrimination. The Common Whitethroat (Syh, ia communis) is a regular Common Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) host in some parts of its breeding […]

Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) Science Article 1 abstract The evolutionary equilibrium hypothesis explains the existence of both acceptors and rejecters of brood parasite eggs within a host population as resulting from a balance between the costs of acceptance and the costs of recognition errors. In such equilibria conditional responses may play an important role. One such […]

Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) Science Article 5 abstract The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of Common Cuckoo Cuculus canorus egg morphs in relation to host species and nest sites. The study is based on analyses of museum egg collections and field observations of Common Cuckoo parasitism in three regions of the Czech […]

Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) Science Article 3 abstract Exploitation of hosts by brood parasitic cuckoos is expected to stimulate a coevolutionary arms race of adaptations andcounteradaptations. However, some hosts have not evolved defenses against parasitism. One hypothesis to explain a lack of hostdefenses is that the life-history strategies of some hosts reduce the cost of parasitism […]

Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) Science Article 4 abstract I found a young cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) in the nest of the black redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros) in the viticultural area of Andra{evec (46 deg 00’N, 15 deg 57’E), in north-western Croatia, on June 15, 2004. The nest was situated on an outer wooden beam of a building in […]