Reduced ultraviolet reflectance does not affect egg rejection by Northern Cardinals (Cardinalis cardinalis)

With the discovery that the ultraviolet (UV) spectrum is visible to birds, studies have shown how this parameter can affect the ability of hosts of brood parasites to recognize eggs. However, the role UV reflectance plays in egg recognition has not been well studied in hosts of Brown-headed Cowbirds...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Wilson journal of ornithology 2016-06, Vol.128 (2), p.334-342
Main Authors: Abernathy, Virginia E., Peer, Brian D.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal nesting
Birds
Brood parasitism
Brown-headed Cowbird
Coatings
Colors
egg recognition
Eggs
Eggs and nests
Experiments
Fish eggs
MAJOR ARTICLES
Molothrus ater
Northern Cardinal
Ornithological research
Ornithology
Parasites
Parasitism
Reflectance
Spectral reflectance
Spottiswoode
Studies
Ultraviolet radiation
Ultraviolet reflection
UV reflectance
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Summary:With the discovery that the ultraviolet (UV) spectrum is visible to birds, studies have shown how this parameter can affect the ability of hosts of brood parasites to recognize eggs. However, the role UV reflectance plays in egg recognition has not been well studied in hosts of Brown-headed Cowbirds (Molothrus ater). Northern Cardinals (Cardinalis cardinalis) are common hosts that usually accept cowbird eggs, but evidence suggests that cardinals reject nonmimetic eggs more frequently. The purpose of this study was to determine if a reduction in UV reflectance of cowbird eggs would elicit a rejection response from the cardinal. Four treatments were used: (1) cowbird eggs covered with UV-block; (2) cowbird eggs covered with a control coating; (3) uncoated cowbird eggs used as a control, and (4) cardinal eggs covered with UV-block. Cowbird and cardinal eggs with UV-block were not more likely to be rejected than eggs in either of the control treatments. Cowbird and cardinal eggs are similar in both appearance and occasionally size, and high intraclutch variation has been found within cardinal clutches, all of which may be a constraint in evolving fine-tuned egg recognition. Furthermore, cowbird parasitism does not impose significant costs for cardinals, and therefore, selection pressures to evolve an ability to distinguish between cowbird and cardinal eggs are likely minimal.
ISSN:1559-4491
1938-5447
DOI:10.1676/wils-128-02-334-342.1