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Why do some birds tolerate cuckoo chicks in their nests?
DancingAndroid
It's actually not just "some" birds that tolerate cuckoo chicks in their nests, it's most birds.
Cuckoos have been labelled by humans as a parasitic bird, which lays its eggs in the nests of other birds. However cuckoos can also be beneficial to their host.
Sometimes birds will actually remove the cuckoo's egg from their nest. But most of the time they will actually accept it as one of their own.
There are two reasons why a bird will accept a cuckoo's egg as their own.
First of all, cuckoos are actually rather mean. If the cuckoo witnesses its egg being evicted from the nest, then the cuckoo will likely return to the nest later and crush the host bird's eggs. Most birds seem to have learnt that removing a cuckoo's egg from their nest will end badly, so they just accept it.
The second reason is because the cuckoo egg actually provides the nest with more defence from predators, especially with the spotted cuckoo.
Spotted cuckoo chicks for example secrete a terrible smell. This smell makes the nest seem unappetising to predators, such as cats and Birds of Prey. So the host bird's nest is benefiting from extra protection if they accept the responsibility of raising the cuckoo's chick.
In a way, the cuckoo bird works like the Mafia, running a protection racket. That is if you pay your dues (accept the cuckoo's eggs as your own), then you will get protection. But refuse and your nest gets smashed up.
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∙ 8y ago
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What is interesting about how the common koel and cuckoo bird raise their chicks?
The common koel is a member of the cuckoo family: thus, the way they raise their chicks is the same. These birds are known as 'brood parasites'. This means that they lay their eggs in the nests of other birds, leaving the other birds to raise the chicks once they hatch.
Which bird is known to leaving its eggs in other birds nests?
It is the cuckoo (Latin name: Cuculus canorus).
Which birds lays eggs in other birds nests?
In North America, cowbirds do this. In Europe, it is a type of Cuckoo that does this.
Which bird its too lazy to build its own nest?
The Cuckoo is notorious for laying an egg in another bird's nest, leaving the host bird to raise the cuckoo chick. Once the cuckoo chick hatches, it instinctively pushes any unhatched eggs and chicks out of the nest, leaving the cuckoo chick the sole occupant.
Which bird does not build it's own nest?
Cowbirds. They lay their eggs in other birds' nests, creating a hazard for the chicks in the nest, because cowbird chicks are usually stronger than the birds in the nest they hatch in. The parents just try to feed them all and the cowbird gets the most attention.
What bird lays her eggs in another birds nest?
The female Common Cuckoo lays her eggs in other birds nests, like the Reed Warblers and Willow Warblers nests.
What bird never lands?
The cuckoo is the bird which never builds nest. Cuckoos lay their eggs in the nests of other birds and leave the "adopted parents" to raise the cuckoos own chicks.
Which bird does not makes its own nest?
A cuckoo doesn't make a nest of it's own. Instead it lays an egg in another birds nest. The cuckoo relies on the other (smaller) birds to raise it's young for it. Cuckoo birds lay their eggs in clocks. I thought everyone knew that. It is the Brown-headed Cowbird that lays their eggs in other birds' nests.
Why cuckoo do not build nest?
They evolved to be parasites to other birds, laying their eggs in the nests of other species, which raises the baby cuckoo as it's own young.
What is the young one of cuckoo called?
A young cuckoo is called a "cuckoo chick." Cuckoos are known for laying their eggs in the nests of other bird species and letting those birds raise their young.
Why do birds make their nests in trees?
It keeps the eggs and chicks away from ground dwelling predators.
What is a man called whose wife cheats on him?
cuckold, from cuckoo because the birds leave their eggs in other bird nests for the other birds to raise.
