Short incubation periods of brown-headed cowbirds: how do cowbird eggs hatch before yellow warbler eggs?

Article Abstract:

The incubation periods of cowbird eggs incubated in natural nests and incubated artificially in isolation from other eggs and in clutches of Yellow Warbler eggs were compared to find out why cowbirds have short incubation periods. Findings revealed that cowbird embryos hatch earlier than Yellow Warbler embryos since they develop faster and they lengthen the incubation periods of warbler eggs. These imply that cowbirds hatch by disrupting incubation of smaller eggs and hatching early in response to stimuli from host eggs.

Eggs, Eggs (Biology), Incubation

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Male northern orioles eject cowbird eggs: implications for the evolution of rejection behavior

Article Abstract:

A total of 16 northern oriole nests were parasitized to study how brown-headed cowbird eggs were rejected. The Icterus galbula males were also studied to find out if they removed cowbird eggs. Eggs were ejected from 14 of the parasitized nests, with eggs in six nests being ejected via breakage. The ejection of one cowbird egg resulted in the damage of 0.38 northern oriole eggs. The ability of males to eject eggs suggests that this trait may become more prevalent in future generations of northern orioles.

Research, Analysis, Ornithological research, Parasitic birds, Northern oriole

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