Camouflage is conferred by background matching and disruption, which are both affected by
microhabitat [1]. However, microhabitat selection that enhances camouflage has only been …

Cuckoo eggs famously mimic those of their foster parents to evade rejection from
discriminating hosts. Here we test whether parasites benefit by repeatedly parasitizing the …

This article presents a model of egg rejection in cases of brood parasitism. The model is
developed in three stages in the framework of signal-detection theory. We first assume that …

The coevolutionary process between avian brood parasites and their hosts predicts that low
intraclutch variation in egg colour appearance favours egg discrimination of parasite eggs …

Many passerine host species have counteracted the parasite egg mimicry in their
coevolutionary arms race with the common cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) by evolving increased …

Hosts are expected to evolve resistance strategies that efficiently detect and resist exposure
to virulent parasites and pathogens. When recognition is not error-proof, the acceptance …

Many avian hosts have evolved antiparasite defence mechanisms, including egg rejection,
to reduce the costs of brood parasitism. The two main alternative cognitive mechanisms of …

Many cuckoo species lay eggs that match those of their hosts, which can significantly reduce
rejection of their eggs by the host species. However, egg mimicry is problematic for …

Recognition is considered a critical basis for discriminatory behaviours in animals.
Theoretically, recognition and discrimination of parasitic chicks are not predicted to evolve in …

Despite major differences between human and avian colour vision, previous studies of
cuckoo egg mimicry have used human colour vision (or standards based thereon) to assess …