The evolution of egg rejection by cuckoo hosts in Australia and Europe

• Published in: Behavioral ecology Vol. 16; no. 4; pp. 686 - 692
• Main Authors: Langmore, N.E., Kilner, R.M., Butchart, S.H.M., Maurer, G., Davies, N.B., Cockburn, A., Macgregor, N.A., Peters, A., Magrath, M.J.L., Dowling, D.K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Oxford University Press 01.07.2005; Oxford Publishing Limited (England)
• Subjects: Aves; brood parasitism; coevolution; cowbirds; cuckoos; life-history strategies; Australia; Europe

Exploitation of hosts by brood parasitic cuckoos is expected to stimulate a coevolutionary arms race of adaptations and counteradaptations. However, some hosts have not evolved defenses against parasitism. One hypothesis to explain a lack of host defenses is that the life-history strategies of some...