Cheating birds mimic host nestlings to deceive foster parents

[PhysOrg]

The common cuckoo is known for its deceitful nesting behavior—by laying eggs in the nests of other bird species, it fools host parents into rearing cuckoo chicks alongside their own. While common cuckoos mimic their host's eggs, new research has revealed that a group of parasitic finch species in Africa have evolved to mimic their host's chicks—and with astonishing accuracy. The study is published in the journal Evolution.

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