birding-aus
Observations like this have been recorded previously and this one is a
very vivid illustration of the strength of the instinct of (most) parent
birds to feed a hungry mouth! The stimuli provided by the exceptionally
large gape and exceptionally loud begging, wing fluttering etc of a
cuckoo chick can over-ride the small matter of its being the "wrong"
species. Cross-specific parenting is quite easily triggered among
mammals (including humans) by stimuli such as proportionately large,
infantile head and eyes, crying/wimpering/mewing sounds and general
helplesness so it seems reasonable that the same should apply to birds.
Regards, Anne
--
Anne & Roger A. Green
Atriplex Services-Environmental Consultants, Landscapers, Educators
and Growers of Native Australian Plants.
http://www.riverland.net.au/~atriplex
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