Cuckoo
Cuckoos are birds in the family Cuculidae, a diverse group that includes brood parasites, nest builders, and species that raise their own young.
Brood parasitism: A reproductive strategy in which an animal leaves its offspring to be raised by another individual or species. Some cuckoos lay eggs in other birds’ nests and leave host parents to raise their chicks.
Cuculidae: The bird family containing cuckoos, coucals, roadrunners, and related species. Cuckoo is the common name for members of this family, whose species vary widely in behavior.
Common cuckoo: A migratory Eurasian cuckoo, Cuculus canorus, whose females lay eggs in other birds’ nests. It is the best-known example of an obligate brood-parasitic cuckoo.
Cuckoo evolution: The evolutionary history and diversification of birds in the family Cuculidae. The family’s evolutionary history includes repeated adaptations to different nesting and feeding strategies.
Egg mimicry: Resemblance between an animal’s eggs and those of another species, often reducing the chance of rejection. Female brood-parasitic cuckoos can lay eggs resembling those of particular host species.
Cuculiformes: An order of birds that includes the family Cuculidae. The order places cuckoos within a broader group of related birds.
Asian koel: A large South Asian cuckoo whose eggs are commonly laid in the nests of crows. Its parasitic breeding and conspicuous calls make it a familiar regional cuckoo.
Brood parasite evolution: The evolutionary origins and diversification of organisms that reproduce by exploiting hosts’ parental care. Cuckoos provide major examples for studying how brood parasitism evolves.
Cuckoo chick ejection: The removal of host eggs or nestlings from a nest by a newly hatched brood-parasitic cuckoo. In several cuckoo species, a hatchling clears the nest so host parents concentrate care on it.
Cuckoo morphology: The physical form and anatomical features characteristic of cuckoos and their relatives. Cuckoos often have slender bodies, long tails, and zygodactyl feet, though appearances vary.