Learned recognition of brood parasitic cuckoos in the superb fairy-wren Malurus cyaneus

Social learning of a brood parasite by its host

“…However, it was unclear whether social learning led only to a change in perceived risk of parasitism or involved refinement of a template for cuckoo recognition [8]. Unlike reed warblers, fairy-wrens do not face high risks through mobbing of cuckoos, which may explain why they do not reduce their mobbing response to cuckoos with decreased risk of parasitism [7]. The absence of such phenotypic plasticity in mobbing response clarifies the role of social learning in cuckoo recognition.…”

“…Shining bronze-cuckoos are morphologically similar to Horsfield's bronze-cuckoos and elicit a highly aggressive response from superb fairy-wrens, whereas honeyeaters elicit a low-level response, even when placed near a fairy-wren nest [7]. The purpose of the honeyeater control was to investigate whether repeated presentations could affect response to a stimuli through sensitization [1].…”

Geographic variation in egg ejection rate by great tits across 2 continents

“…However, Møller and Soler (2012) recently reviewed the literature on consistency in host responses to brood parasites and found large intraspecific variation in resistance in several host species (Cruz and Wiley 1989;Nakamura 1990;Soler 1990;Soler and Møller 1990;Briskie et al 1992;Lindholm 1999;Soler, Martínez, et al 1999;Moskát et al 2002;Martín-Gálvez et al 2006Moskát et al 2008;Stokke et al 2008;Avilés et al 2011;Soler et al 2011;Langmore et al 2012). These studies indicate that speciesspecific consistency in resistance is far from the rule.…”

Superb Fairy-wrens (Malurus cyaneus) increase vigilance near their nest with the perceived risk of brood parasitism

“…However, Shining Bronzecuckoos are morphologically similar to Horsfield's Bronze-cuckoos, and previous study of the closely related Splendid Fairy-wren (M. splendens) found that these hosts attacked Horsfield's Bronze-cuckoos and Shining Bronzecuckoos in a similar manner (Payne et al 1985). Both of these cuckoo species have been observed being mobbed by Superb Fairy-wrens in Campbell Park (W. E. Feeney and N. E. Langmore personal observation), and previous work using Shining Bronze-cuckoo models found that they elicit a highly aggressive response from Superb Fairy-wrens (e.g., Langmore et al 2012, which suggests that they are an adequate substitute for Horsfield's Bronze-cuckoos. White-plumed Honeyeaters are common in Campbell Park, are similar in size (19 g) to Shining Bronze-cuckoos (23 g), and present no threat to Superb Fairy-wrens .…”

“…Each group was presented with either a cuckoo (experimental) or honeyeater (control) model for 5 min. Models were placed within a protective wire cage on a small experimental perch and placed~2 m from the target Superb Fairy-wren nest (following Langmore et al 2012. To minimize disturbance to the nest, all movement near the nest by the experimenter was restricted to times when no birds were in sight.…”