Pallid Cuckoo Research Articles

Observations on the behaviour and ecology of the Pallid Cuckoo Heteroscenes pallidus in south-eastern Queensland

The Pallid Cuckoo Heteroscenes pallidus is a species of Old World brood-parasitic cuckoo (Tribe: Cuculini) that has received relatively little research attention, resulting in a lack of information on several aspects of its natural history. Over the course of c. 16 weeks (between September 2017 and January 2018), we recorded daily observations of at least six individuals present at the study site at Lake Samsonvale, Queensland. Here we present a summary of our observations including details on habitat preferences, plumages, vocalisations, social behaviour and interactions between Pallid Cuckoos and their potential hosts. We discuss these observations and suggest potential avenues for future research.

Egg shape mimicry in parasitic cuckoos.

Parasitic cuckoos lay their eggs in nests of host species. Rejection of cuckoo eggs by hosts has led to the evolution of egg mimicry by cuckoos, whereby their eggs mimic the colour and pattern of their host eggs to avoid egg recognition and rejection. There is also evidence of mimicry in egg size in some cuckoo-host systems, but currently it is unknown whether cuckoos can also mimic the egg shape of their hosts. In this study, we test whether there is evidence of mimicry in egg form (shape and size) in three species of Australian cuckoos: the fan-tailed cuckoo Cacomantis flabelliformis, which exploits dome nesting hosts, the brush cuckoo Cacomantis variolosus, which exploits both dome and cup nesting hosts, and the pallid cuckoo Cuculus pallidus, which exploits cup nesting hosts. We found evidence of size mimicry and, for the first time, evidence of egg shape mimicry in two Australian cuckoo species (pallid cuckoo and brush cuckoo). Moreover, cuckoo-host egg similarity was higher for hosts with open nests than for hosts with closed nests. This finding fits well with theory, as it has been suggested that hosts with closed nests have more difficulty recognizing parasitic eggs than open nests, have lower rejection rates and thus exert lower selection for mimicry in cuckoos. This is the first evidence of mimicry in egg shape in a cuckoo-host system, suggesting that mimicry at different levels (size, shape, colour pattern) is evolving in concert. We also confirm the existence of egg size mimicry in cuckoo-host systems.

Winter avifauna of Wanjarri Nature Reserve and Lake Mason Conservation Park of the Eastern Goldfields, Western Australia

Surveys of the avifauna of Wanjarri Nature Reserve and Lake Mason Conservation Park during late July 2015 recorded 100 species, with 68 at Wanjarri and 90 at Lake Mason. The greater number of species at Lake Mason Conservation Park was attributed to the presence of 19 species of waterbirds associated with the lake. Although nearly equal numbers of terrestrial species were found at both reserves, the frequency of occurrence records from Lake Mason showed significantly greater frequencies for several species, probably because of the greater availability of surface water there. The significantly higher frequencies of Horsfield’s Bronze-Cuckoo Chalcites basalis and Pallid Cuckoo Cacomantis pallidus at Wanjarri Nature Reserve may have been related to the many hairy caterpillars available there as a food resource. Detrended Correspondence Analysis showed that the major assemblages of bird species were associated primarily with vegetation type and secondarily with the geographic separation of the two reserves. Species associated with Mulga Acacia aneura woodlands, spinifex Triodia grasslands and saltbush Atriplex habitats on Wanjarri and Lake Mason were similar to those recorded in other arid-zone habitats of Western Australia. Species associated with Mulga woodlands included Crested Pigeon Ocyphaps lophotes, Slaty-backed Acanthiza robustirostris , Chestnut-rumped A uropygialis and Inland Thornbills A. apicalis , Singing Lichenostomus virescens and Spiny-cheeked Honeyeaters Acanthagenys rufogularis , Rufous Whistler Pachycephala rufiventris and Red-capped Robin Petroica goodenovii . Species associated more often with spinifex grasslands and saltbush habitats were White-winged Malurus leucopterus and Variegated Fairy-wrens M. lamberti , Australian Magpie Cracticus tibicen , Brown Songlark Cincloramphus cruralis , and several raptors. Inclusion of these two reserves in the conservation estate of Western Australia is important as they are at the margin of the distribution ranges for several species. Data from our surveys will facilitate future assessment of populations of birds and assist in management decisions regarding future protection of the avifauna in these reserves.

Does clutch variability differ between populations of cuckoo hosts in relation to the rate of parasitism?

To aid discrimination of mimetic cuckoo eggs, hosts of avian brood parasites would theoretically benefit by laying clutches that are more uniform in appearance and by laying clutches that differ from those of other females in the population. Support for these hypotheses is equivocal, particularly amongst studies that have utilized reflectance spectrophotometry; quantitative studies comparing clutch variation between parasitized and unparasitized host populations have supported these hypotheses, whereas experimental studies comparing clutch variation between rejector and acceptor individuals within a population generally have not. Here we extend the approach of comparing population differences in clutch variation by asking whether parasitized populations that suffer relatively higher parasitism rates, and are therefore subject to more intense selection for host defences, show lower within-clutch variation and higher between-clutch variation than populations with low parasitism rates. We used reflectance spectrophotometry to compare clutch variation in two hosts of the pallid cuckoo, Cuculus pallidus, each of which exhibits two geographically distinct subspecies that differ in parasitism rates (red wattlebirds, Anthochaera carunculata, and yellow-throated miners, Manorina flavigula). A third host species, the yellow-tufted honeyeater, Lichenostomus melanops, was included as a control. Our results do not support either hypothesis, and are consistent with experimental studies that also failed to support the hypothesis, casting doubt on the generality of these processes.

Clutch variation and egg rejection in three hosts of the pallid cuckoo, Cuculus pallidus

AbstractIn theory, hosts of avian brood parasites would benefit by modifying their egg appearance in two ways to help identify mimetic foreign eggs: (i) by laying clutches that are more uniform in appearance and (ii) by laying clutches that differ from those of other females in the population. Support for these theories is inconsistent, and few studies have used objective measures of clutch variation. Here we used reflectance spectrophotometry to quantify within-clutch and between-clutch variation of three host species of an Australian brood parasite, the pallid cuckoo (Cuculus pallidus). We used egg-swapping experiments in which subjects were presented with either a conspecific egg or a heterospecific egg to compare the egg rejection responses of a frequently parasitised host, the white-plumed honeyeater (Lichenostomus penicillatus), with two less frequently parasitised hosts, dusky woodswallows (Artamus cyanopterus) and willie wagtails (Rhipidura leucophrys). As predicted, rejection rate increased as contrast between foreign egg and host clutch increased. Further, the major host showed greater between-clutch variation than the occasional hosts, and also rejected more similar-looking eggs. Contrary to predictions however, within-clutch variation was not lower in the major host, nor was it important in predicting the rejection rate of foreign eggs by the three host species.

Cryptic gentes revealed in pallid cuckoosCuculus pallidususing reflectance spectrophotometry

Many cuckoo species lay eggs that match those of their hosts, which can significantly reduce rejection of their eggs by the host species. However, egg mimicry is problematic for generalist cuckoos that parasitize several host species with different egg types. Some generalist cuckoos have overcome this problem by evolving several host-specific races (gentes), each with its own, host-specific egg type. It is unknown how generalist cuckoos lacking gentes are able to avoid egg rejection by hosts. Here we use reflectance spectrophotometry (300-700 nm) on museum egg collections to test for host-specific egg types in an Australian generalist cuckoo reported to have a single egg type. We show that the colour of pallid cuckoo (Cuculus pallidus) eggs differed between four host species, and that their eggs closely mimicked the eggs of the host they parasitized. These results reveal that pallid cuckoos have host-specific egg types that have not been detected by human observation, and indicate that gentes could be more common than previously realized.

Feeding of nestling and fledgling brood parasites by individuals other than the foster parents: a review

We summarize 67 reports of 13 species of brood-parasitic young, mostly fledglings, being fed by individuals other than the host. We refer to this behavior as auxiliary feeding. The parasite gains extra food resources, whereas the adult that feeds the parasite appears to behave maladaptively. The parasite may present a supernormal stimulus, manipulating unrelated adults into feeding it. Most auxiliary feedings were observed in brood parasites that were raised by small hosts. Host specificity, vocal mimicry, visual mimicry, and nestling competition apparently were not associated with the number of records of auxiliary feedings; however, the trends could not be analyzed statistically because of the anecdotal nature of the observations for each species. Still to be determined is whether obtaining auxiliary feeding is a strategy used by some brood-parasitic species, particularly the pallid cuckoo (Cuculus pallidus).

Interactions of a Juvenile Pallid Cuckoo with Three Other Species

"Interactions of a Juvenile Pallid Cuckoo with Three Other Species." Emu - Austral Ornithology, 85(2), pp. 126–127

Who Feeds the Fledged Pallid Cuckoo?

(1962). Who Feeds the Fledged Pallid Cuckoo? Emu - Austral Ornithology: Vol. 62, No. 3, pp. 169-171.

The Rufous Whistler: A Pseudo-Fosterer of the Pallid Cuckoo

"The Rufous Whistler: A Pseudo-Fosterer of the Pallid Cuckoo." Emu - Austral Ornithology, 61(1), p. 68

Pallid Cuckoo Carrying Egg

Pallid Cuckoo Carrying Egg

Australian Pipit and Pallid Cuckoo

Australian Pipit and Pallid Cuckoo

Early Return of the Pallid Cuckoo

Early Return of the Pallid Cuckoo

The Pallid Cuckoo in Tasmania

The Pallid Cuckoo in Tasmania

Pallid Cuckoo in May

Pallid Cuckoo in May

Pallid Cuckoo's Egg in Pipit's Nest

Pallid Cuckoo's Egg in Pipit's Nest

The Helmeted Honey-Eater (Ptilotis Cassidix) as Foster-Parent to the Pallid Cuckoo (Cuculus Pallidus)

The Helmeted Honey-Eater (Ptilotis Cassidix) as Foster-Parent to the Pallid Cuckoo (Cuculus Pallidus)

Pallid Cuckoo, &c., in Tasmania

Pallid Cuckoo, &c., in Tasmania