Brood parasitism by Common Hawk-Cuckoo (Hierococcyx varius Vahl.)

Abstract

The Indian Hawk-Cuckoo (Hierococcyx varius Vahl.) was found to be a brood parasite on Pale-capped Babbler, Turdoides affinis (Jerdon) in Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) Campus, Thrissur. The chances of babbler nests parasitised by cuckoos is maximum when they build nests on open-crowned and exposed trees at heights more than 5m. However, the nest building materials and the flock size of the babbler family did not influence the cuckoo in selecting the host. The study also indicates that the cuckoo may be destroying the eggs or the chicks of the host.