Reviewing 30 years of studies on the Common Cuckoo:accumulated knowledge and future perspectives

In Europe, eggs of the Common Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) have been found in more than 125 different host species. However, very few species are frequently parasitized. The Cuckoo is divided into several distinct races termed gentes. Females of each gens specialize in parasitizing a particular host species. More than 20 such gentes are recognized in Europe. Each female Cuckoo lays eggs of constant appearance. Most gentes can be separated based on their distinct egg types, which in many cases mimic those of their hosts. Different gentes may occur in sympatry or may be separated geographically. Some gentes may occur in restricted parts of the host’s distribution area. These patterns raise some fundamental questions like: Why are some passerine species preferred as hosts while others are not? Why does a host population consist of individuals either accepting or rejecting Cuckoo eggs? Why is there marked variation in egg rejection behavior between various host populations? How distinct and host-specialized are Cuckoo gentes? These questions are discussed in relation to existing knowledge and future perspectives.

Intra-clutch variation in egg appearance assessed by human vision does not relate to rejection of parasite eggs in Iberian Azure-winged Magpies

e coevolutionary arms race between cuckoos and their hosts predicts that low variation in egg features within a host clutch would facilitate discrimination of mimetic parasite eggs.Here,we experimentally examine this prediction by using arti cial and natural parasite eggs showing contrasting level of matching with host eggs.We quanti ed,based on human assessment,intra-clutch variation in egg appearance and egg discrimination in the Iberian Azure-winged Magpie(Cyanopica cyanus),a presumed former host of the Great Spotted Cuckoo(Clamator glandarius).Azure-winged Magpies rejected parasitic eggs in relation to their degree of dissimilarity with own eggs:Great Spotted Cuckoo model eggs were relatively more o en rejected(73.7%) than real Great Spotted Cuckoo eggs(44.4%) and the less contrasting conspeci c eggs(35.5%).Contrary to our predictions,we found that,irrespective of mimicry level of parasitic eggs,intra-clutch variation in host egg appearance did not di er signi cantly between rejecters and acceptors.We found,however,that individuals with higher variation in egg-size were almost signi cantly more prone to be rejecters than individuals showing lower variation in egg size.Our results do not support the hypothesis that the extent of intraclutch variation in egg discrimination varied with parasite egg mimicry in this particular system,and add to previous ndings suggesting that perhaps an increase in intra-clutch variation in egg appearance,rather than a decrease,might be advantageous when discriminating against non-mimetic Great Spotted Cuckoo eggs.