Parasite egg recognition based on multicomponent cues by green-backed tits (Parus monticolus)

Abstract

Egg recognition and rejection is a common and effective anti-parasitism adaptation in bird hosts. Hosts reject alien eggs using recognition signals such as egg ground color and maculation. Green-backed tits (Parus monticolus) have a highly developed capability for recognizing parasite eggs, but the cues used for egg recognition are unclear. We combined avian visual perceptual modeling and field experiments to explore the effects of egg ground color and maculation on the recognition of parasite eggs. P. monticolus uses a multi-cue with possible hierarchical mechanism for egg recognition. The mechanism of egg recognition in P. monticolus appears to be a specific adaptation to the phenotypes of eggs laid by local brood parasites.