大杜鹃在白腹短翅鸲巢中寄生繁殖

2009年至2012年期间,在甘肃莲花山自然保护区共发现91个白腹短翅鸲(Hodgsonius phaenicuroides)巢,其中15巢被大杜鹃(Cuculus canorus)寄生,寄生率为16.48%。根据对13枚寄生的大杜鹃卵的观察,其中12枚卵色为浅蓝色,与白腹短翅鸲的深蓝绿色卵差异明显,仅1枚与白腹短翅鸲卵色一致。大杜鹃与白腹短翅鸲的卵重(t =11.208, df=38, P<0.001)和卵短径(t=0.970,df=38, P<0.001)差异极显著。白腹短翅鸲具有识别大杜鹃卵的能力,15巢中只有4巢接受寄生卵并继续孵化,7巢成功识别,剩余4巢无法确定是否识别。白腹短翅鸲为雌鸟单独孵卵,推测识别大杜鹃卵可能只与雌鸟有关。

Brood Parasitism on White-bellied Redstart by Common Cuckoo

Fifteen nests of White-bellied Redstart (Hodgsonius phaenicuroides) been parasitized by Common Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) were found during the breeding season from 2009 to 2012 at Lianhuashan Nature Reserve, Gansu province, with a parasitism rate of 16.48%. To the human eye, 12 out of 13 eggs of Common Cuckoo were slightly blue in color and were different from the dark bluish green eggs of White-bellied Redstart, except one matched very well. The mean weight of Common Cuckoo eggs was 3.76±0.16 g, with an average long axis of 22.19±0.52 mm and an average short axis of 17.62±0.47 mm (n=10), respectively. There were significant differences in weight of eggs (t=11.208, df=38, P<0.001) and short axis of eggs (t=0.970, df=38, P<0.001) between Common Cuckoo and White-bellied Redstart. Our research showed White-bellied Redstart can recognize eggs of Common Cuckoo, 7 nests were confirmed deserted after being parasitized and 4 nests accepted while the remaining 4 were unknown.