How small is too small? Incubation of large eggs by a small host

• Published in: Canadian journal of zoology Vol. 89; no. 10; pp. 968 - 975
• Main Authors: STEWART, Rebecca L. M, GUIGUENO, Mélanie F, SEALY, Spencer G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ottawa NRC Research Press 01.10.2011; National Research Council of Canada; Canadian Science Publishing NRC Research Press
• Subjects: Animal and plant ecology; Animal reproduction; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Autoecology; Aves; Biological and medical sciences; Birds; Body size; Coccyzus; Coccyzus erythropthalmus; Cowbirds; Cuckoos; Eggs; Embryonic development; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Habitats; Incubation; Parasites; Physiological aspects; Setophaga; Turdus migratorius; Vertebrata; Zoology; United States; Host parasite relation; Vertebrata; Acceptance; Egg; Social parasitism; Size; Host; Aves; Experimental study; Nest

The Yellow Warbler ( Setophaga petechia (L., 1766)) is among the putative hosts of the Black-billed Cuckoo ( Coccyzus erythropthalmus (Wilson, 1811)), which is hypothesized to have once been an obligate brood parasite. Most parasites lay a small egg relative to their body size, possibly to prevent h...