[va-bird] Parasitism in Yellow-billed Cuckoos

On Jun 28, 2004, at 10:14 AM, Icepeep@xxxxxxx wrote:

> Cuckoos are
> well known nest parasites ....

Bob,

Frankly, I think this is not well known, but I was able to find an  
online article on brood parasitism    
http://www.stanfordalumni.org/birdsite/text/essays/ 
Brood_Parasitism.html   in which it says:

> The North American Yellow-billed and Black-billed Cuckoos only rarely  
> lay their eggs in the nests of other species, but occasionally lay  
> some of their eggs in the nests of other members of their species. Our  
> cuckoos usually build nests of their own and rear their own young.  
> Only about 40 percent of cuckoo species worldwide are brood parasites,  
> the rest care for their own eggs and young.

In the species account for Yellow-billed Cuckoo at this site, it says:

> Occ parasitizes Black-billed Cuckoo, rarely other birds. Breeding  
> often coincides with outbreaks of cicadas, tent caterpillars, etc.;  
> prey abundance may lead to production of excess eggs and thus to brood  
> parasitism.

Paula Sullivan
Alexandria



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