Figure 1: Eggs laid by hosts of the brood parasitic common cuckoo. Thus, SIFT evaluates patterns in a way that is neurobiologically plausible, not just for primates but also for birds, providing a ...

European cuckoos lay very different eggs depending on the host species. Genetic analyses have revealed how this adaptation is inherited without leading to speciation. Subscribe to our newsletter for ...

Cuckoos infiltrate the nests of other birds with similar-looking eggs, but drongos have evolved a highly effective way to snuff out the imposters. Their ability to recognise the uniquely patterned ...

Spot the impostor: A cuckoo finch chick (left) and a tawny-flanked prinia chick (right) open their beaks for a meal. Photo by Claire Spottiswoode Few examples of parasites in nature are as infamous as ...