Table 1. Differences in growth parameters between non-evictor (chicks raised alone, host eggs removed) and evictor (host eggs left and evicted) cuckoo chicks in great reed warbler nests.

Variable	Phase	Effect size	Sample size		F	df	P
	(days)		chicks	measurements
Mass	0–2	0.07±0.37	31	68	0.03	29.5	0.86
(g)	3–5	2.42±1.04	32	75	5.47	30.2	0.026
	6–8	4.76±1.99	22	60	5.73	19.9	0.027
	9–11	1.49±2.40	22	60	0.38	19.4	0.54
	12–14	3.22±2.95	21	53	1.20	18.7	0.29
	15+	3.04±2.28	21	52	1.77	17.4	0.20
Tarsus	0–2	0.16±0.22	32	46	0.55	19.1	0.47
(mm)	3–5	0.41±0.31	32	64	1.73	25.7	0.20
	6–8	0.55±0.38	23	55	2.06	19.0	0.17
	9–11	0.13±0.52	22	57	0.06	19	0.80
	12–14	0.25±0.37	21	49	0.45	18.1	0.51
	15+	0.19±0.44	17	50	0.19	13.9	0.67
Gape	0–2	−0.58±0.36	32	47	2.67	25	0.11
length	3–5	−0.02±0.37	32	67	0.00	27.8	0.97
(mm)	6–8	0.32±0.46	23	55	0.49	18.9	0.49
	9–11	0.10±0.43	22	59	0.05	19.6	0.83
	12–14	0.30±0.40	21	49	0.56	17.5	0.46
	15+	−0.02±0.42	17	49	0.00	14	0.97
Gape	0–2	−0.03±0.25	32	46	0.01	22.2	0.92
width	3–5	0.19±0.25	32	67	0.55	26.9	0.47
(mm)	6–8	0.75±0.33	23	55	5.13	19.1	0.035
	9–11	0.32±0.31	22	59	1.05	20.2	0.32
	12–14	0.46±0.34	21	50	1.79	17.1	0.20
	15+	0.55±0.24	17	49	4.98	11.1	0.047
Gape	0–2	−6.05±5.26	32	46	1.32	22.8	0.26
area	3–5	2.34±7.03	32	67	0.11	28	0.74
(mm2)	6–8	14.74±10.82	23	55	1.86	19	0.19
	9–11	6.28±10.42	22	59	0.36	19.6	0.55
	12–14	12.65±12.03	21	49	1.11	17.4	0.31
	15+	10.76±9.83	17	49	1.20	14.1	0.29

Data from a priori defined phases of development were analyzed separately. Growth was estimated as deviations from growth patterns of evictor chicks randomly sampled in the study population (see Methods). Effect size (mean ± SE) is the difference between the growth parameter of non-evictor and evictor groups (i.e., positive effect  =  greater growth of non-evictor chicks). Sample sizes for respective periods are given as number of nests/chicks and measurements and df refers to denominator degrees of freedom from GLMM models controlling for chick identity and age.