10,000 Birds

MAY 25, 2023

While having somebody else raise your chicks like an attractive strategy to me, it is not without dangers. Not only does this species directly parasitize other species but also metaphorically, by imitating the sparrowhawks in its appearance and thus deterring potential predators.

Birds 130

Birds Raised Cattle Mammals 130

10,000 Birds

JULY 4, 2023

From Hiro, we learn how Northern Pygmy Owls are “rule breakers,” not incubating eggs till all are hatched and then raising owlets that mature at the same rate even though the eggs were laid asynchronously (as most owl eggs are).

Owls 200

Owls Science Barn Owls Penguins 200

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 10, 2022

Of course, it is hard to resist looking at a paper titled “Host personality predicts cuckoo egg rejection in Daurian redstarts” Basically, the personality of a female redstart (bold or shy) predicts the responses to parasitic eggs – bold hosts are more likely to reject parasitic eggs.

Birds 191

Birds China Eggs Owls 191

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

They bred on a number of islands near Japan and Taiwan, and ranged widely and abundantly from the Aleutian Islands south through California. The most notorious effect is that their eggshells become so thin that a parent bird will crush it’s eggs while attempting to incubate them.

Albatross 198

Albatross Endangered Species Geese Alaska 198

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 8, 2022

Acariformes: Syringophilidae) from the Chestnut-eared Bunting (Passeriformes: Emberizidae) in Japan (morphology and DNA barcode data)” Ah, to be a scientist. In contrast, the females need to make sure not to get duped into raising actual cuckoos – the buntings are a targeted host species ( source ). Better safe than sorry.

Birds 197

Birds Eggs Bangladesh China 197