INTRASPECIFIC NEST PARASITISM IN BIRDS

Abstract

Summary (1) The incidence of intraspecific nest parasitism in birds is reviewed. This phenomenon can be identified by various methods, ranging from biochemical examination of protein and enzyme polymorphisms to observations on the sequence of appearance of eggs in the nest as well as on the shape and colour of the eggs. The phenomenon has been reported for at least 53 species (Table I), mostly among precocial birds. (2) The evidence suggests that the parasites are ( a ) young, unmated birds, ( b ) females which have lost their nests and (c) mated females which also lay in the nests of other females. High proportions of such females, and scarcity of suitable nest sites increase the rate of parasitism. (3) Breeding success in parasitized nests is reduced by factors such as egg loss, desertion, inefficient incubation, reduced clutch size and late layings. The upper limit of the rate of intraspecific parasitism is discussed. It is argued that its incidence will be higher in the tropics than in extreme zones, for example, high latitudes and deserts, because there is higher synchronization of breeding in the latter, and increased predation in the former zones. Also, it will be more common in species which lay large clutches, such as precocial species.