Eggshell spots are an important cue for the egg retrieval behavior in two tit species

Liu, J. J.; Ma, Laikun; Yang, X. B.; Li, Bin; Wang, Xingyu; Liang, Wei

doi:10.1007/s10071-023-01814-w

Anim Cogn

2023

DOI: 10.1007/s10071-023-01814-w

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Eggshell spots are an important cue for the egg retrieval behavior in two tit species

J. J. Liu¹,

Laikun Ma²,

X. B. Yang³

et al.

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2024

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Cited by 2 publications

References 46 publications

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Egg retrieval in ground-nesting cuckoo hosts: can two species of buntings accurately identify and retrieve their own eggs?

Zhang,

Zhong,

Wang

et al. 2024

Anim Cogn

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Egg retrieval in birds may help ensure the survival of eggs and improve reproductive success. However, with the risk of brood parasitism, for ground-nesting or cavity-nesting bird hosts, there is a significant reproductive cost and thus a reduction in fitness if the host wrongly retrieved the parasitic eggs. The south rock bunting (Emberiza yunnanensis) and yellow-throated bunting (E. elegans) are hosts for common cuckoos (Cuculus canorus), which coexist within the study area and breed sympatrically in ground nests. Previous studies have found that these two species exhibit strong egg recognition and egg rejection of non-mimetic eggs. In this study, red model eggs, budgerigar eggs, and the host’s own eggs were used to assess the recognition and retrieval behavior of two bunting hosts, particularly in response to different types of eggs placed at the nest edge. The results showed that both bunting hosts retrieved ca. 80% of own eggs and did not retrieve any red model eggs. This indicated that both species could distinguish non-mimetic model eggs from their own eggs and make appropriate decisions, which is consistent with their responses when encountering foreign eggs in the nest. However, both species simultaneously retrieved some (8.3% for the yellow-throated bunting and 19% for south rock bunting) of the highly mimetic budgerigar eggs, indicating that the degree of mimicry of foreign eggs affects their egg recognition and egg retrieval behavior. Factors such as parasitism risk, nest predation pressure, age differences, and experience of parent birds may combine to influence egg retrieval behavior of the host.

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Egg retrieval in ground-nesting cuckoo hosts: can two species of buntings accurately identify and retrieve their own eggs?

Zhang,

Zhong,

Wang

et al. 2024

Anim Cogn

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Conflicting cognitive decisions: Does egg retrieval modify egg rejection in a host of an obligate brood parasite?

Peer,

Vozza

2024

Ethology

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Egg retrieval is an ancient behaviour displayed by birds in which a displaced egg is transferred back into the nest. Egg rejection, in contrast, is a recently evolved adaptation by hosts of brood parasites in which an egg is removed from a nest. These conflicting behaviours are both adaptive because they prevent reproductive losses, but egg retrieval may benefit brood parasites if hosts retrieve parasitic eggs into their nests. We examined these conflicting cognitive processes in the prothonotary warbler (Protonotaria citrea), a cavity‐nesting host of the brown‐headed cowbird (Molothrus ater). Eggs and nestlings are occasionally found on the rims of warbler nest cavities. We determined how this happened using video cameras and tested whether warblers retrieved their own eggs more often than cowbird eggs. We also determined if shape affects retrieval and rejection by placing cylinders inside nest cups or onto nest rims. We found that eggs were displaced by rapidly departing warblers whose nests are constantly prospected by nest competitors and brood parasites. Warblers retrieved their eggs (29%) and cowbird eggs (19%) at similar rates, and never rejected cowbird eggs after retrieval. Warblers removed most cylinders from nest rims and cups (89% and 78%, respectively), and never retrieved them. Warblers have retained egg retrieval at a low level and its expression is costly because they only retrieve a low level of their own eggs and also retrieve cowbird eggs, which benefits the brood parasite.

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Eggshell spots are an important cue for the egg retrieval behavior in two tit species

Cited by 2 publications

References 46 publications

Egg retrieval in ground-nesting cuckoo hosts: can two species of buntings accurately identify and retrieve their own eggs?

Egg retrieval in ground-nesting cuckoo hosts: can two species of buntings accurately identify and retrieve their own eggs?

Conflicting cognitive decisions: Does egg retrieval modify egg rejection in a host of an obligate brood parasite?

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