Bay-Winged Cowbirds (Molothrus badius) Remove Ectoparasites From Their Brood Parasites, the Screaming Cowbirds (M. rufoaxillaris)

Bay-winged Cowbirds (Molothrus badius) remove ectoparasitic larvae of botflies from their nestlings and those of their brood parasite, the Screaming Cowbird (Molothrus rufoaxillaris). The host also removes other ectoparasites like mites. This removal behavior may be one of the factors selecting for...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Biotropica 1984-01, Vol.16 (3), p.223-226
Main Author: Fraga, Rosendo M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal ethology
Aves
Biological and medical sciences
Biological taxonomies
Bird nesting
Botflies
Brood parasitism
Ectoparasites
Eggs
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Insect larvae
Larvae
Mites
Molothrus badius
Molothrus rufoaxillaris
Mortality
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Vertebrata
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Summary:Bay-winged Cowbirds (Molothrus badius) remove ectoparasitic larvae of botflies from their nestlings and those of their brood parasite, the Screaming Cowbird (Molothrus rufoaxillaris). The host also removes other ectoparasites like mites. This removal behavior may be one of the factors selecting for the host specific behavior of Screaming Cowbirds, as ectoparasitism by flies and mites reach lethal levels at times.
ISSN:0006-3606
1744-7429
DOI:10.2307/2388055