Author(s):

Sajeda Begum

Abstract: The study on host selection by four sympatric cuckoos has been conducted in Bangladesh. Sympatric parasites should show niche segregation through variation in host use. Asian koel (Eudynamys scolopacea) parasitized Common myna (Acridotheres tristis), Long-tailed shrike (Lanius schach) and House crow (Corvus splendens); Indian cuckoo (Cuculus micropterus) parasitized Black drongo (Dicrurus macrocercus). Jungle babbler (Turdoides striata) was parasitized by Jacobin cuckoo (Clamator jacobinus) and Common hawk cuckoo (Cuculus varius), but the breeding season of these two cuckoo species did not overlap. Parasitism rates by cuckoo species in three habitats; human habitations, mixed scrub forests and monotypic plantations showed a significant difference for most host species between habitats, which explains that cuckoos preferred specific habitats even if their favourite host also occurred elsewhere. Indian cuckoo, Common hawk cuckoo and Jacobin cuckoo showed excellent egg mimicry with their hosts while Asian koel showed good mimicry to one of three host species.

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