Cuckoos

foxypal · #1 (**permalink**) 31-05-2010, 10:06 PM

One mystery that has always amazed me is when a cuckoo lays her eggs in another birds nest how come the baby doesnt think its like the "mum"
How come it knows to mate with another cuckoo.

I was watching a documentary the other day and saw the baby cuckoo physically kick the other eggs out of the nest!

Anyone see it?

Picidae · #2 (**permalink**) 31-05-2010, 10:20 PM

Mostly by vocal recognition (parasitic fledglings don't mimic their hosts)

Couple of articles for you here:

The cuckoos - Google Books

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/arti...f/12952641.pdf

feathered-friend · #3 (**permalink**) 31-05-2010, 10:24 PM

I find it fascinating too

It also learns to migrate like a cuckoo, and behave like a cuckoo, ie laying its eggs in another birds nest.

Something it would not have been taught by its surrogate mother.

I have also read that if the bird itself was raised in say a dunnocks nest, it will also lay its eggs in a dunnocks nest too!

I do not know the answer as to why it knows these things, but am sure someone here will!

Picidae · #4 (**permalink**) 31-05-2010, 11:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by feathered-friend

I find it fascinating too

I do not know the answer as to why it knows these things, but am sure someone here will!

ff, if you read the links I've posted in reply to this thread, you will understand a lot more.

I'm happy to post more links if you want, but these should keep you going

(As I said, the main recognition stimulant is vocal recognition - male sings, female attracted. It's innate.)