Spatiotemporal patterns of egg laying in the common cuckoo

Understanding egg-laying behaviour of brood parasites in space and time can improve our knowledge interactions between hosts parasites. However, no studies have combined information on the laying activity an obligate parasite with detailed distribution host nests within area period. Here, we used molecular methods analysis egg phenotypes to determine maternal identity common cuckoo, Cuculus canorus, eggs chicks found four species Acrocephalus warblers consecutive years. The median size a cuckoo female (calculated as minimum convex polygon) was correlated negatively density positively number assigned particular female. Cuckoo areas overlapped large extent their location did not change females preferentially parasitized located close previously were mostly specific except for two that species. Future should focus sympatric communities variable densities across different brood-parasitic systems investigate how population affects fitness evolution For instance, it remains unknown whether moving new sites need meet threshold potential host. In addition, young may be more limited laying, particularly respect other hosts, than older females.