Behavioral and Reproductive Ecology

Abstract In his seminal review of the ecology of avian brood parasitism, Payne (1977a) identified host selection and specialization, breeding season synchronization between host and parasite, and several additional reproductive strategies as important ecological aspects of brood parasitism. These additional reproductive strategies include the parasite’s mating systems, its population structure, and its demographic characteristics. They also include the parasite’s relative egg size, as well as possible host mimicry involving the parasite’s eggs or chicks. Last, but of equal importance, are the parasite’s fecundity-related adaptations, such as its dutch size, rate of egg laying, seasonal egg production, and egg dispersion patterns. Some of these primarily morphological aspects of brood-parasite strategies, such as egg and chick mimicry, were discussed in chapter 2. Other more strictly behavioral reproductive strategies of brood parasites, such as host-selection behavior, will be dealt with in chapter 4. The remaining strategies of brood parasites that have particular ecological interest are discussed below.