Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Host nest defense against a color-dimorphic brood parasite: great reed warblers (Acrocephalus arundinaceus) versus common cuckoos (Cuculus canorus)

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Journal of Ornithology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We tested great reed warbler (Acrocephalus arundinaceus) discrimination against two common cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) female color morphs (gray and rufous) in two areas with different parasitism rates and proportions of the two morphs. Hosts recognized the two cuckoo morphs from a control, the feral pigeon (Columba livia), at Apaj, Hungary (where brood parasitism was heavy), whereas no significant differences among the models were recorded at Lužice, Czech Republic (where the parasitism rate was moderate). At Apaj, the hosts discriminated the rufous morph (which is slightly predominant there) better than the gray morph from the control. Between-site comparison (after controlling for background aggression) revealed that great reed warblers were more aggressive towards the rufous morph at Apaj than at Lužice, whereas their responses to the gray morph did not differ, corresponding with much higher between-site difference in the relative abundance of the rufous morph. Our results suggest that both local parasitism pressure and relative abundance of two female color morphs of a brood parasite may significantly influence host nest defenses.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Barabás L, Gilicze B, Takasu F, Moskát C (2004) Survival and anti-parasite defense in a host metapopulation under heavy brood parasitism: a source-sink dynamic model. J Ethol 22:143–151

    Google Scholar 

  • Briskie JV, Sealy SG, Hobson KA (1992) Behavioral defenses against brood parasitism in sympatric and allopatric host populations. Evolution 46:334–340

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Brooke M de L, Davies NB, Noble DG (1998) Rapid decline of host defences in response to reduced cuckoo parasitism: behavioural flexibility of reed warblers in a changing world. Proc R Soc Lond B 265:1277–1282

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen DM, Collins JS, Goldsmith TH (1984) The ultraviolet receptors in bird retinas. Science 225:337–339

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cherry MI, Bennett ATD (2001) Egg colour matching in an African cuckoo, as revealed by ultraviolet-visible reflectance spectrophotometry. Proc R Soc Lond B 268:565–571

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cuthill IC, Partridge JC, Bennett ATD, Church SC, Hart NS, Hunt S (2000) Ultraviolet vision in birds. Adv Study Behav 29:159–214

    Google Scholar 

  • Davies NB (1999) Cuckoos and cowbirds versus hosts: co-evolutionary lag and equilibrium. Ostrich 70:71–79

    Google Scholar 

  • Davies NB, de Brooke ML (1989a) An experimental study of co-evolution between the cuckoo, Cuculus canorus, and its hosts. I. Host egg discrimination. J Anim Ecol 58:207–224

    Google Scholar 

  • Davies NB, de Brooke ML (1989b) An experimental study of co-evolution between the cuckoo, Cuculus canorus, and its hosts. II. Host egg markings, chick discrimination and general discussion. J Anim Ecol 58:225–236

    Google Scholar 

  • Davies NB, de Brooke ML, Kacelnik A (1996) Recognition errors and probability of parasitism determine whether reed warblers should accept or reject mimetic cuckoo eggs. Proc R Soc Lond B 263:925–931

    Google Scholar 

  • Evans CS, Evans L, Marler P (1993) On the meaning of alarm calls: functional reference in an avian vocal system. Anim Behav 46:23–38

    Google Scholar 

  • Gandon S, Capowiez Y, Dubois Y, Michalakis Y, Olivieri I (1996) Local adaptations and coevolution in a metapopulation model. Proc R Soc Lond B 263:1003–1009

    Google Scholar 

  • Gill SA, Neudorf DL, Sealy SG (1997) Host response to cowbirds near the nest: cues for recognition. Anim Behav 53:1287–1293

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Grenfell B, Harwood J (1997) (Meta)population dynamics of infectious deseases. Trends Ecol Evol 12:395–399

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Grim T (2005) Host recognition of brood parasites: implications for methodology in studies of enemy recognition. Auk 122:530–543

    Google Scholar 

  • Harting JE (1895) On the “hepatic” plumage of the cuckoo, Cuculus hepaticus, Sparrman. Zoologist 19:257–263

    Google Scholar 

  • Honza M, Grim T, Čapek M Jr, Moksnes A, Røskaft E (2004) Nest defence, enemy recognition and nest inspection behaviour of experimentally parasitized reed warblers Acrocephalus scirpaceus. Bird Study 51:256–263

    Google Scholar 

  • Honza M, Taborsky B, Taborsky M, Teuschl Y, Vogl W, Moksnes A, Røskaft E (2002) Behaviour of female common cuckoo Cuculus canorus, in the vicinity of host nests before and during egg laying: a radiotelemetry study. Anim Behav 64:861–868

    Google Scholar 

  • Kleven O, Moksnes A, Røskaft E, Rudolfsen G, Stokke BG, Honza M (2004) Breeding success of common cuckoos Cuculus canorus parasitising four sympatric species of Acrocephalus warblers. J Avian Biol 35:394–398

    Google Scholar 

  • Klump G, Curio E (1983) Reactions of blue tits Parus caeruleus to hawk models of different sizes. Bird Behav 4:78–81

    Google Scholar 

  • Knight RL, Temple SA (1986) Methodological problems in studies of avian nest defense. Anim Behav 34:561–566

    Google Scholar 

  • Lindholm AK (2000) Test of phenotypic plasticity in reed warbler defences against cuckoo parasitism. Behaviour 137:43–60

    Google Scholar 

  • Lindholm AK, Thomas RJ (2000) Differences between populations of reed warblers in defences against brood parasitism. Behaviour 137:25–42

    Google Scholar 

  • Löhrl H (1979) Untersuchungen am Kuckuck, Cuculus canorus (Biologie, Ethologie und Morphologie). J Ornithol 120:139–173

    Google Scholar 

  • Manly BFJ (1986) Multivariate statistical methods: a primer. Chapman and Hall, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Moksnes A, Røskaft E (1992) Responses of some rare cuckoo hosts to mimetic model cuckoo eggs and dummies. Behaviour 116:64–89

    Google Scholar 

  • Moksnes A, Røskaft E (1995) Egg-morphs and host preference in the common cuckoo (Cuculus canorus): an analysis of cuckoo and host eggs from European museum collections. J Zool Lond 236:625–648

    Google Scholar 

  • Moksnes A, Bičík V, Honza M, Øien IJ (1993) Cuckoo Cuculus canorus parasitism on Acrocephalus warblers in southern Moravia in the Czech Republic. J Ornithol 134:425–434

    Google Scholar 

  • Moksnes A, Røskaft E, Braa AT, Korsnes L, Lampe H, Pedersen HC (1991) Behavioural response of potential hosts towards artificial cuckoo eggs and dummies. Behaviour 116:64–85

    Google Scholar 

  • Moskát C, Fuisz TI (1999) Reactions of red-backed shrikes Lanius collurio to artificial cuckoo Cuculus canorus eggs. J Avian Biol 30:175–181

    Google Scholar 

  • Moskát C, Honza M (2000) Effect of nest and nest site characteristics on the risk of cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) parasitism in the great reed warbler (Acrocephalus arundinaceus). Ecography 23:335–341

    Google Scholar 

  • Moskát C, Honza M (2002) Cuckoo Cuculus canorus parasitism and host’s rejection behaviour in a heavily parasitized great reed warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus population. Ibis 144:614–622

    Google Scholar 

  • Moskát C, Szentpéteri J, Barta Z (2002) Adaptations by great reed warblers to brood parasitism: a comparison of populations in sympatry and allopatry with the common cuckoo. Behaviour 139:1313–1329

    Google Scholar 

  • Moskát C, Székely T, Kisbenedek T, Karcza Z, Bártol I (2003) The importance of nest cleaning in egg rejection behaviour of great reed warblers Acrocephalus arundinaceus. J Avian Biol 34:16–19

    Google Scholar 

  • Naumann JF (1826) J. A. Naumann’s Naturgeschichte der Vögel Mitteleuropas, vol 5. Leipzig

  • Olendorf R, Robinson SK (2000) Effectiveness of nest defence in the Acadian flycatcher Empidonax virescens. Ibis 142:365–371

    Google Scholar 

  • Paulson DR (1973) Predator polymorphism and apostatic selection. Evolution 27:269–277

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Payne RB (1967) Interspecific communication signals in parasitic birds. Am Nat 101:363–375

    Google Scholar 

  • Payne RB (1997) Family Cuculidae (cuckoos). In: Hoyo J del, Elliott A, Sargatal J (eds) Handbook of the birds of the world, vol 4. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, pp 508–607

  • Procházka P, Honza M (2003) Do common whitethroats (Sylvia communis) discriminate against alien eggs? J Ornithol 144:354–363

    Google Scholar 

  • Procházka P, Honza M (2004) Egg discrimination in the yellowhammer. Condor 106:405–409

    Google Scholar 

  • Procházka P, Reif J (2000) Analysis of ringing recoveries of great reed warblers (Acrocephalus arundinaceus) ringed or recovered in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Sylvia 36:91–105

    Google Scholar 

  • Robertson RJ, Norman RF (1977) The function and evolution of aggressive host behavior towards the brown-headed cowbird (Molothrus ater). Can J Zool 55:508–518

    Google Scholar 

  • Røskaft E, Moksnes A, Stokke BG, Moskát C, Honza M (2002a) The spatial habitat structure of host populations explains the pattern of rejection behavior in hosts and parasitic adaptations in cuckoos. Behav Ecol 13:163–168

    Google Scholar 

  • Røskaft E, Moksnes A, Stokke BG, Bičík V, Moskát C (2002b) Aggression to dummy cuckoos by potential European cuckoo hosts. Behaviour 139:613–628

    Google Scholar 

  • Rothstein SI (1978) Mechanisms of avian egg-recognition: additional evidence for learned components. Anim Behav 26:671–677

    Google Scholar 

  • Rothstein SI (1982) Mechanisms of avian egg recognition: which parameters elicit responses by rejecter species? Behav Ecol Sociobiol 11:229–239

    Google Scholar 

  • Sealy SG, Bazin RC (1995) Low frequency of observed cowbird parasitism on eastern kingbirds: host rejection, effective nest defense or parasite avoidance? Behav Ecol 6:140–145

    Google Scholar 

  • Sealy SG, Neudorf DI, Hobson KA, Gill SA (1998) Nest defense by potential hosts of the Brown-headed Cowbird. In: Rothstein SI, Robinson SK (eds) Parasitic birds and their hosts: studies in coevolution. Oxford University Press, New York, pp 194–211

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith JNM, Arcese P, McLean IG (1984) Age, experience, and enemy recognition by song sparrows. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 14:101–103

    Google Scholar 

  • Soler JJ, Møller AP (1990) Duration of sympatry and coevolution between the great spotted cuckoo and its magpie host. Nature 343:748–750

    Google Scholar 

  • Soler JJ, Martínez JG, Soler M, Møller AP (1999) Genetic and geographic variation in rejection behavior of cuckoo eggs by European magpie populations: an experimental test of rejecter-gene flow. Evolution 53:947–956

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • StatSoft, Inc. (2001). STATISTICA (data analysis software system), version 6. http://www.statsoft.com

  • Stokke BG, Moksnes A, Røskaft E, Rudolfsen G, Honza M (1999) Rejection of artificial cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) eggs in relation to variation in egg appearance among reed warblers (Acrocephalus arundinaceus). Proc R Soc Lond B 266:1483–1488

    Google Scholar 

  • Swynnerton CFM (1918) Rejections by birds of eggs unlike their own: with remarks on some of the cuckoo problems. Ibis 60:127–154

    Google Scholar 

  • Via S, Gomulkiewicz R, De Jong G, Scheiner SM, Schlichting CD, van Tienderen PH (1995) Adaptive phenotypic plasticity: consensus and controversy. Trends Ecol Evol 10:212–217

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Voipio P (1953) The hepaticus variety and the juvenile types of the cuckoo. Ornis Fenn 30:97–117

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

Thanks are due to Michael I. Cherry and an anonymous reviewer for helpful comments and for improving our English. Csaba Moskát helped us during fieldwork in Hungary. The editors kindly polished the German summary. The research was financially supported by a grant from the Grant Agency of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic (No. A6093203 to MH). Our experiments were carried out in accordance with the current laws and ethical guidelines in the Czech Republic and Hungary.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Květná 8, 603 65, Brno, Czech Republic

    Marcel Honza, Václav Šicha & Petr Procházka

  2. Department of Zoology and Ecology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University in Brno, Kotlářská 2, 611 37, Brno, Czech Republic

    Václav Šicha

  3. Department of Zoology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 31, 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic

    Radka Ležalová

Authors
  1. Marcel Honza
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Václav Šicha
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Petr Procházka
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Radka Ležalová
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Marcel Honza.

Additional information

Communicated by F. Bairlein

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Honza, M., Šicha, V., Procházka, P. et al. Host nest defense against a color-dimorphic brood parasite: great reed warblers (Acrocephalus arundinaceus) versus common cuckoos (Cuculus canorus). J Ornithol 147, 629–637 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-006-0088-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-006-0088-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation