Question

What is brood parasitism? Explain with the help of an example.

Explain Brood parasitism with the help of a suitable example.

Answer 1

• Brood parasitism is a reproductive technique used by some bird species in which one bird, known as the brood parasite, lays eggs in the nest of another bird species, known as the host. The host bird then incubates and nurtures the eggs as if they were its own, frequently to the detriment of its own young.
• The conduct of the common cuckoo is an excellent example of brood parasitism. Female cuckoos lay their eggs in the nests of other bird species, including crows. Cuckoo eggs closely resemble the host's eggs, making it less likely that the host will discover the incursion. The parasite bird's eggs have developed to mimic the host's egg in size and colour over time, reducing the likelihood of the host bird recognising and ejecting the foreign eggs from the nest.