The Daurian Redstart: How They Protect Their Nests From Cuckoos By Moving Closer to Human Settlements The Daurian redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus) is a migratory bird species that breeds in the temperate grasslands of Central, Eastern, and South Asia. They are known for their beautiful, vibrant plumage and melodious song, but many people don’t know about their interesting nesting habits. When cuckoos (Cuculus canorus) are present in their breeding grounds, the Daurian redstarts will move their nests close to or even inside of human settlements. Through this behavior, they actively protect their nest from cuckoos and their brood parasitism. What Is Brood Parasitism? Brood parasitism is a phenomenon in birds, where one species lays their eggs in the nest of another species. This means that the offspring of the parasitic species will receive parental care and resources from the host species. This often leads to the host species’ chicks being tossed out of the nest by the parasite chicks. Cuckoos are notorious parasites, laying their eggs in the nests of other species, such as the Daurian redstart. Why Do Daurian Redstarts Move their Nests Closer to Human Settlements? When cuckoos are prevalent in the Daurian redstart’s breeding grounds, the redstarts will move their nests closer to or even into human settlements. This behavior helps them to protect their nests from cuckoos, as the cuckoos avoid human settlements. In addition to the protection from cuckoos, Daurian redstarts usually move their nests to shrubs with low foliage, which offers them better visibility and increased safety. In some cases, the nests may be placed on roofs, walls, or other man-made structures. This is because these structures have fewer predators than natural sites, offering the birds more protection. Conclusion The Daurian redstart’s interesting nesting habits demonstrate how they actively protect their nests from cuckoos and their brood parasitism by moving their nests closer to or even inside human settlements. By doing this, they are able to increase the safety of their nests as cuckoos tend to avoid human settlements. This unique behavior shows how the redstarts are adapting to our increasingly human-dominated environment.
https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-science-news/passerine-bird-takes-advantage-of-human-settlements
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