Ablenkungsman?ver bei der Eiablage des H?herkuckucks(Clamator glandarius)

Summary A pair of the Great Spotted Cuckoo exhibited reproductive behaviour during the years 1968–72. Until 1971 the female laid the eggs in nests of Magpies or Blackbirds which were placed in the aviary. Birds which could serve as hosts at these times were not in the aviary. The female Cuckoo visited the nests before laying an egg quite often and stayed at or in the nests for longer periods.1972 two Rollers were kept together with the Cuckoos and one Roller laid four eggs into a cave of a beech-stump. Now the female Cuckoo tried to deposit its eggs into the Roller's nest and was successful doing so several times. As soon as the female Cuckoo was ready to lay, the male Cuckoo diverted the Roller and so made it possible for the female to get into the Rollers nest. The laying of the egg took only a few seconds.