AVIS-IBIS

Birds of Indian Subcontinent

Brood parasitism and egg matching in the Red-chested Cuckoo Cuculus solitarius in southern Africa

Publication Type:Journal Article
Year of Publication:2002
Authors:Kuiper, SM, Cherry, MI
Journal:Ibis
Volume:144
Issue:4
Date Published:2002
ISBN Number:1474-919X
Keywords:Africa, Caffrornis, Caffrornis caffer, Caffrornis caffra, Callene, Callene caffra, Cercotrichas, Cercotrichas quadrivirgata, Cossypha, Cossypha caffra, Cossypha dichroa, Cossypha heuglini, Cossypha natalensis, Cuculidae, Cuculus, Cuculus canorus, Cuculus solitarius, Dessonornis, Dessonornis caffra, Erithacus, Erithacus rubecula, Erythropygia, Erythropygia quadrivirgata, Melaenornis, Melaenornis pammelaina, Monticola, Monticola rupestris, Muscicapidae, Notococcyx, Notococcyx solitarius, Saxicola, Saxicola torquata, Saxicola torquatus, southern Africa, Tychaedon, Tychaedon quadrivirgata
Abstract:Host usage and relative rates of egg matching were investigated in the Red-chested Cuckoo Cuculus solitarius in southern Africa, using nest record cards and museum collections. Eighteen host species were found to be parasitized at varying degrees of intensity (0.14–12.5%). The most commonly recorded parasitized host, the Cape Robin Cossypha caffra, had a relatively low rate of parasitism (2.46%). The host species experiencing the most recorded pressure from parasitism was the Bearded Robin Erythropygia quadrivirgata, with 12.5% parasitism. Human perception of cuckoo/host egg matching was assessed for parasitized clutches of host species in museum egg collections. Eggs of three different cuckoo egg morphs were scored as matching those of the host species on a 1–5 scale. Perfect/good matching was recorded for eggs found in Chorister Cossypha dichroa, Heuglin's Cossypha heuglini and Natal Robins’Cossypha natalensis clutches. Poor and very poor matching was evident for cuckoo eggs found in four host species’ clutches: the Cape Robin, Stonechat Saxicola torquata, Cape Rockthrush Monticola rupestris and Black Flycatcher Melaenornis pammelaina. Available evidence suggests that the Red-chested Cuckoo parasitizes hosts in a particular environment (low vegetation and trees). Good to intermediate matching was recorded with only 47% of host eggs, and with only 28.5% of Cape Robin clutches. A relatively high degree of host specificity, however, is suggested by the nest record card data, which indicate that species with large numbers of records are not those with the highest rates of parasitism.
URL:http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1474-919X.2002.00097.x
Short Title:Ibis
Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith