Vocal mimicry of hosts by Great Spotted Cuckoo <i>Clamator glandarius</i>: further evidence

Redondo, Tomás; Reyna, Luis Arias de

doi:10.1111/j.1474-919x.1988.tb02720.x

Cited by 28 publications

(17 citation statements)

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“…Previous studies of the begging displays of Great Spotted Cuckoos claimed that nestling Cuckoos mimic the begging calls of host young (Mundy , Redondo & Arias de Reyna ). Both previous studies had extremely low sample sizes (one Cuckoo chick in Mundy and similarly limited sample sizes in Redondo & Arias de Reyna , T. Redondo pers. comm.)…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…He concluded that Great Spotted Cuckoo nestlings mimic the begging call of chicks of the Pied Crow Corvus albus (its main host in South Africa, where the study was carried out). Later, Redondo and Arias de Reyna () reported that nestlings from naturally parasitized nests of its two main hosts in Europe (Eurasian Magpie and Carrion Crow) produced different begging calls resembling host nestling calls. Therefore, these two previous studies indicated differences in begging calls of Great Spotted Cuckoo nestlings when parasitizing different host species (resembling the begging calls of each host species).…”

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confidence: 99%

“…Therefore, these two previous studies indicated differences in begging calls of Great Spotted Cuckoo nestlings when parasitizing different host species (resembling the begging calls of each host species). Furthermore, Mundy () suggested that vocal mimicry in Great Spotted Cuckoos could be due to an innate tendency of this cuckoo species to imitate any bird that it hears, and Redondo and Arias de Reyna () suggested that nestling Cuckoos could learn to emit a mimetic begging call.…”

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The vocal begging display ofGreatSpottedCuckooClamator glandariusnestlings in nests of its two main host species: genetic differences or developmental plasticity?

Roldán

Soler

Márquez

et al. 2013

Ibis

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The begging behaviour of nestlings is part of a communication system by which nestlings solicit food from their parents. In the case of brood parasitic species, nestlings in the nests of host species could achieve appropriate begging calls through three different mechanisms: (1) mimicking the host species' begging calls, (2) emitting a begging call that stimulates a wide range of hosts or (3) tuning the begging call in a way that optimizes food provisioning by foster parents. All three mechanisms could occur as a result of post-hatching environmental factors, or they may be innate when parasitic females specialize on particular host species. In this study we analysed the begging calls of Great Spotted Cuckoo nestlings in nests of its two main hosts, Eurasian Magpie Pica pica and Carrion Crow Corvus corone corone. We did not find support for the previously suggested mimetic call of cuckoo nestlings, as the structure of begging calls did not differ with respect to host species. In addition, the number of notes per call was the only trait of Cuckoo begging calls that differed when parasitizing different host species, but it was in the opposite direction from that of the begging calls of the nestlings of the two host species. Furthermore, cross-fostering experiments with nestlings that hatched in nests of the two host species yielded calls that did not support the possibility of genetic determination of begging calls of Cuckoos parasitizing different host species (e.g. host species of origin). Moreover, we found a significant effect of the identity of the host species in explaining variation in the number of notes per call. Therefore, our results suggest that Cuckoo nestlings are able to adjust their begging calls after hatching in nests of different host species by learning efficient begging displays.

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The vocal begging display ofGreatSpottedCuckooClamator glandariusnestlings in nests of its two main host species: genetic differences or developmental plasticity?

Roldán

Soler

Márquez

et al. 2013

Ibis

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“…Several generalist cuckoo species possess begging call polymorphisms (e.g., Diederik cuckoo C. caprius , Reed 1968; Long‐tailed koel Eudynamys taitensis , McLean and Waas 1987; Great‐spotted cuckoo Clamator glandarius , Redondo and Arias‐de‐Reyna 1988; Horsfield's bronze‐cuckoo Chalcites basalis , Payne and Payne 1998), each morph resembling the nestling begging call of a different host species and apparently indicating the existence of host‐specific races. Mimetic begging calls may have evolved as a result of selection on cuckoo nestlings to tune into existing channels of offspring–parent communication and thereby elicit optimal parental provisioning (e.g., Davies et al 1998; Kilner et al 1999) or to evade recognition and rejection by hosts (Langmore et al 2003), but it is not known whether they are innately encoded or acquired after parasitism.…”

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SOCIALLY ACQUIRED HOST‐SPECIFIC MIMICRY AND THE EVOLUTION OF HOST RACES IN HORSFIELD'S BRONZE‐CUCKOOCHALCITES BASALIS

et al. 2008

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Coevolution between parasites and their hosts typically leads to increasing specialization on host species by the parasite. Where multiple hosts are parasitized, specialization on each host can result in genetic divergence within the parasite population to create host races, and, ultimately, new species. We investigate how host-specific traits arise in Horsfield's bronze-cuckoo Chalcites basalis nestlings. Newly hatched cuckoos evict host young from the nest, yet in the absence of a model they accurately mimic the different begging calls of a primary host (superb fairy-wren, Malurus cyaneus) and a secondary host (buff-rumped thornbill, Acanthiza reguloides). Using cross-fostering experiments, we show that begging calls are modified after parasitism, through experience.Further, we demonstrate the mechanism by which mimetic calls are acquired. All cuckoo nestlings initially produced the call of their primary host. When cross-fostered as eggs to a secondary host, calls increased in variability and were rapidly modified to resemble those of the secondary host through shaping by host parents. We suggest that plasticity in the development of host-specific traits after parasitism is likely to reduce selection for host race formation.

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“…Many parasitic cuckoo nestlings are virtuosos at mimicking the vocal calls of host nestlings, which, like egg mimicry, presumably ensures the cuckoo nestling is accepted and cared for by host parents (e.g. McLean & Waas 1987;Redondo & Arias de Reyna 1988;Langmore et al 2003). Having been accepted, parasitic nestlings then often exaggerate those features of the host nestling's begging displays that are critical to attracting parental care, such as amplitude and call rate (Redondo 1993;Davies et al 1998;Kilner et al 1999).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sheep in wolf's clothing: host nestling vocalizations resemble their cowbird competitor's

et al. 2008

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Nestlings of many avian brood parasites are virtuosos at mimicking host nestling vocalizations, which, like egg mimicry, presumably ensures acceptance by host parents. Having been accepted, parasitic nestlings then often exaggerate the aspects of the host's display to increase parental care. Host nestlings may, in turn, exaggerate their vocalizations to keep up with the parasite, though this possibility has not been evaluated. We experimentally parasitized song sparrow (Melospiza melodia) nests with a brown-headed cowbird (Molothrus ater) chick to evaluate how host nestlings respond. Vocalizations emitted from experimentally parasitized nests were higher in frequency, and louder, than those from unparasitized nests, consistent with the cowbird exaggerating its signalling. In response, host nestlings exaggerated the frequency and amplitude of their vocalizations, such that they resembled the cowbird's while they 'scaled back' on calls per parental provisioning bout. Sparrows in parasitized nests were fed equally often as sparrows in unparasitized nests, suggesting that exaggerating some aspects of vocalization while scaling back on others can help host nestlings confronted with a cowbird. Our results support the recently proposed hypothesis that signalling in parasitized nests involves a dynamic interaction between parasitic and host nestlings, rather than a one-way process of mimicry by the parasite.

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Vocal mimicry of hosts by Great Spotted Cuckoo Clamator glandarius: further evidence

Abstract: Great Spotted Cuckoo nestlings were shown, after some days in the nest, to have begging calls that differed depending on whether they were being reared by Magpies or Carrion Crows. They also produced calls of a pitch and repetition rate that implied a high level of hunger.

Cited by 28 publications

References 6 publications

The vocal begging display ofGreatSpottedCuckooClamator glandariusnestlings in nests of its two main host species: genetic differences or developmental plasticity?

The vocal begging display ofGreatSpottedCuckooClamator glandariusnestlings in nests of its two main host species: genetic differences or developmental plasticity?

SOCIALLY ACQUIRED HOST‐SPECIFIC MIMICRY AND THE EVOLUTION OF HOST RACES IN HORSFIELD'S BRONZE‐CUCKOOCHALCITES BASALIS

Sheep in wolf's clothing: host nestling vocalizations resemble their cowbird competitor's

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