Table 1.
Characteristics of Australian cuckoo eggs and the eggs of their hosts used in this study. Summary statistics for morphological egg measurements, details of host species, and the rates of cuckoo egg ejection are reported for experimental, non-mimetic model eggs.
| Cuckoo species | N | Mass (mg) ± SD | Length (mm) ± SD | Breadth (mm) ± SD | Apex thickness (um) ± SD | Meridian thickness (um) ± SD | Host species | N | Mass (mg) ± SD | Length (mm) ± SD | Breadth (mm) ± SD | Apex thickness (um) ± SD | Meridian thickness (um) ± SD | Nest type | Ejection behaviour | Ejection rate | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chalcites basalis (Horsfield’s Bronze-cuckoo) | 3 | 79.33 ± 7.37 | 17.53 ± 0.19 | 12.00 ± 0.53 | 80.73 ± 5.27 | 86.18 ± 4.49 | Acanthiza chrysorrhoa (Yellow-rumped thornbill) | 2 | 71 ± 9.85 | 20.05 ± 5.92 | 14.57 ± 3.82 | 62.53 ± 1.70 | 79.18 ± 5.26 | Dome/Closed | Acceptor | 10% | Langmore et al.37, Medina & Langmore4 |
| 2 | 83.5 ± 3.61 | 16.96 ± 1.16 | 11.86 ± 0.18 | 82.43 ± 3.42 | 98.04 ± 6.66 | Acanthiza reguloides (Buff-rumped thornbill) | 2 | 74 ± 0 | 17.25 ± 1.06 | 13.08 ± 0.24 | 78.03 ± 6.72 | 70.76 ± 3.31 | Dome/Closed | Acceptor | 0% | Langmore et al.37 | |
| 2 | 86.5 ± 2.12 | 17.54 ± 0.82 | 12.40 ± 0.54 | 89.54 ± 12.15 | 101.39 ± 10.90 | Aphelocephala leucopsis (Southern whiteface) | 2 | 94 ± 7.07 | 21.42 ± 3.90 | 14.95 ± 3.08 | 81.46 ± 0.43 | 101.52 ± 0.27 | Dome/Closed | No Data | – | ||
| 3 | 85.0 ± 3.61 | 24.44 ± 78.92 | 17.46 ± 5.89 | 80.62 ± 11.69 | 104.51 ± 15.29 | Acanthiza pusilla (Brown thornbill) | 1 | 75 | 16.19 | 11.67 | 77.81 | 95.85 | Dome/Closed | Acceptor | 12.50% | Langmore et al.37 | |
| 6 | 88.50 ± 5.89 | 18.67 ± 2.63 | 13.08 ± 2.56 | 88.16 ± 12.28 | 92.51 ± 6.95 | Malurus cyaneus (Superb fairy-wren) | 10 | 70.90 ± 4.79 | 19.32 ± 4.02 | 13.75 ± 2.89 | 78.71 ± 11.56 | 80.65 ± 6.97 | Dome/Closed | Acceptor | 10.60% | Langmore et al.37 | |
| Mean | 85.14 ± 3.40 | 19.09 ± 2.77 | 13.18 ± 2.14 | 81.92 ± 6.94 | 96.05 ± 6.63 | ||||||||||||
| Chalcites lucidus (Shining bronze-cuckoo) | 12 | 82.21 ± 7.35 | 19.33 ± 4.98 | 13.57 ± 3.23 | 79.33 ± 18.09 | 78.57 ± 9.48 | Acanthiza chrysorrhoa (Yellow-rumped thornbill) | 7 | 69 ± 7.79 | 20.45 ± 6.03 | 14.61 ± 3.66 | 64.88 ± 9.13 | 72.91 ± 5.73 | Dome/Closed | Acceptor | 10% | Langmore et al.37 |
| 2 | 70.50 ± 0.71 | 17.29 ± 0.18 | 12.28 ± 0.41 | 65.07 ± 1.81 | 68.85 ± 3.24 | Acanthiza lineata (Striated thornbill) | 3 | 56.50 ± 4.36 | 25.24 ± 8.01 | 17.95 ± 5.51 | 61.65 ± 10.87 | 69.65 ± 4.40 | Dome/Closed | No Data | – | ||
| 7 | 86.21 ± 11.46 | 18.14 ± 0.71 | 12.66 ± 0.39 | 72.46 ± 8.66 | 78.36 ± 10.30 | Acanthiza pusilla (Brown thornbill) | 4 | 67.71 ± 5.79 | 23.40 ± 5.43 | 16.84 ± 3.81 | 61.06 ± 8.90 | 70.54 ± 7.10 | Dome/Closed | Acceptor | 12.50% | Langmore et al.37 | |
| 1 | 83 | 17.21 | 12.66 | NA | 81.7 | Malurus cyaneus (Superb fairy-wren) | 1 | 84 | 17.49 | 12.97 | 55.93 | 81.51 | Dome/Closed | Acceptor | 10.60% | Langmore et al.37 | |
| Mean | 80.45 ± 6.87 | 17.99 ± 0.99 | 12.79 ± 0.55 | 72.29 ± 7.13 | 76.87 ± 5.56 | ||||||||||||
| Heteroscenes pallidus (Pallid cuckoo) | 2 | 199.50 ± 12.02 | 23.20 ± 0.00 | 17.05 ± 0.47 | 100.55 ± 3.37 | 109.35 ± 5.61 | Artamus leucorynchus (White-breasted woodswallow) | 2 | 215.00 ± 4.95 | 17.10 ± 1.99 | 12.11 ± 2.12 | 106 | 113.58 ± 6.93 | Cup/Open | No Data | – | |
| 3 | 238.33 ± 44.77 | 24.65 ± 0.51 | 17.62 ± 0.15 | 104.35 ± 27.80 | 115.69 ± 18.64 | Anthochaera carunculata (Red wattlebird) | 2 | 428.50 ± 30.41 | 28.12 ± 3.26 | 20.70 ± 2.84 | 150.09 | 144.76 | Cup/Open | Ejector | 42.90% | Langmore et al.37 | |
| 2 | 204.00 ± 24.04 | 24.17 ± 0.10 | 16.88 ± 0.45 | 89.02 | 103.03 | Gavicalis virescens (Singing honeyeater) | 1 | 139 | 30.93 | 21.23 | 81.92 | 100.73 | Cup/Open | No Data | – | ||
| 1 | 240 | 24.51 | 17.84 | 104.03 | 116.38 | Manorina flavigula (Yellow-throated miner) | 3 | 312.67 ± 81.77 | 20.46 ± 4.75 | 14.89 ± 3.34 | 148.30 ± 36.94 | 138.64 ± 4.85 | Cup/Open | Ejector | * | Landstrom et al.74 | |
| 3 | 242.33 ± 7.51 | 24.23 ± 1.42 | 17.52 ± 0.30 | 88.40 ± 15.00 | 122.44 ± 6.89 | Melithreptus affinis (Black-headed honeyeater) | 2 | 105.50 ± 7.78 | 17.82 ± 0.33 | 13.02 ± 0.35 | 82.59 ± 9.76 | 93.81 ± 11.46 | Cup/Open | Ejector | * | Starling et al.54 | |
| 2 | 221.00 ± 4.24 | 23.72 ± 0.14 | 16.99 ± 0.26 | 78.23 ± 3.20 | 112.32 ± 4.82 | Melithreptus lunatus (White-naped honeyeater) | 2 | 108.50 ± 20.51 | 17.77 ± 1.17 | 12.95 ± 1.25 | 76.36 ± 12.52 | 94.15 ± 10.41 | Cup/Open | No Data | – | ||
| 2 | 241.00 ± 35.36 | 24.45 ± 0.40 | 17.13 ± 1.43 | 91.84 ± 1.23 | 124.62 ± 4.29 | Melithreptus validirostris (Strong-billed honeyeater) | 2 | 170.00 ± 7.07 | 19.80 ± 2.26 | 15.27 ± 1.34 | 115.87 ± 23.35 | 115.78 ± 5.80 | Cup/Open | No Data | – | ||
| 2 | 231.00 ± 19.80 | 20.63 ± 5.08 | 8.77 ± 10.81 | 88.47 ± 4.94 | 114.72 ± 4.28 | Ptilotula fusca (Fuscous honeyeater) | 2 | 107.50 ± 6.36 | 27.17 ± 3.88 | 19.35 ± 1.84 | 70 | 81.40 ± 1.6 | Cup/Open | No Data | – | ||
| 3 | 244.00 ± 21.79 | 27.10 ± 4.79 | 19.68 ± 3.80 | 95.23 ± 14.67 | 119.92 ± 11.30 | Ptilotula ornata (Yellow-plumed honeyeater) | 1 | 104 | 16.8 | 11.87 | NA | 101.94 | Cup/Open | No Data | – | ||
| 1 | 179 | 22.51 | 17.03 | 87.39 | NA | Ptilotula plumula (Grey-fronted honeyeater) | 1 | 94 | 16.24 | 12.66 | 67.63 | 87.87 | Cup/Open | No Data | – | ||
| 1 | 239 | 24.02 | 18.52 | 107.29 | 116.28 | Microeca fascinans (Jacky winter) | 1 | 113 | 19.19 | 14.06 | NA | 103.7 | Cup/Open | No Data | – | ||
| 2 | 197.50 ± 30.41 | 22.72 ± 0.57 | 16.81 ± 0.49 | 90.65 ± 18.01 | 117.75 ± 7.02 | Rhipidura leucophrys (Willie wagtail) | 2 | 120.00 ± 18.38 | 24.55 ± 11.07 | 16.84 ± 6.15 | 93.00 ± 17.73 | 98.18 ± 11.65 | Cup/Open | Ejector | 36% | Landstrom et al.72 | |
| Mean | 223.06 ± 22.33 | 23.83 ± 1.54 | 16.82 ± 2.67 | 93.79 ± 8.65 | 115.68 ± 6.01 | ||||||||||||
| Eudynamys orientalis (Eastern/Pacific koel) | 6 | 621.43 ± 100.30 | 31.02 ± 6.15 | 22.16 ± 4.53 | 158.43 ± 12.76 | 165.85 ± 19.19 | Philemon citreogularis (Little friarbird) | 6 | 273.13 ± 25.24 | 27.14 ± 6.06 | 19.84 ± 4.44 | 126.19 ± 23.69 | 129.38 ± 8.99 | Cup/Open | No Data | – | |
| 6 | 683.33 ± 35.12 | 31.20 ± 6.30 | 21.70 ± 4.61 | 158.89 ± 9.16 | 171.15 ± 11.97 | Philemon corniculatus (Noisy friarbird) | 5 | 429.80 ± 37.82 | 26.50 ± 7.83 | 18.89 ± 5.56 | 134.64 ± 15.57 | 146.50 ± 10.96 | Cup/Open | Ejector |
38% 4% 42.9% |
Abernathy55 Abernathy et al.73 Langmore et al.37 |
|
| 7 | 719.57 ± 55.21 | 32.29 ± 6.89 | 22.66 ± 4.73 | 163.31 ± 11.85 | 169.66 ± 6.52 | Grallina cyanoleuca (Magpie-lark) | 7 | 390.14 ± 34.13 | 23.47 + /0 5.79 | 17.02 ± 4.25 | 126.44 ± 6.66 | 144.43 ± 4.90 | Cup/Open | Ejector |
91% 89% |
Abernathy55 Abernathy et al.73 |
|
| 6 | 725.67 ± 78.74 | 34.56 ± 1.22 | 24.82 ± 1.07 | 152.55 ± 12.66 | 165.22 ± 6.52 | Sphecotheres vieilloti (Australasian figbird) | 7 | 512.86 ± 13.67 | 22.69 ± 7.05 | 16.57 ± 4.74 | 148.93 ± 21.46 | 154.02 ± 4.13 | Cup/Open | No Data | – | ||
| Mean | 687.5 ± 47.85 | 32.27 ± 1.63 | 22.84 ± 1.38 | 158.30 ± 4.42 | 167.97 ± 2.89 |
*For these hosts, rates of egg ejection were unknown, but egg ejection behaviour by hosts could be inferred from quantitative analyses revealing that the cuckoo eggs are near perfect mimics of the host eggs, suggesting that the cuckoos have been subject to strong selection for egg mimicry through host egg ejection54,72.