ADULT BROOD PARASITES FEEDING NESTLINGS AND FLEDGLINGS OF THEIR OWN SPECIES - A REVIEW

We summarized 40 reports of nine species of brood parasites feeding yo ung of their own species. These observations suggest that the propensi ty to provision young has not been lost entirely in brood parasites de spite the belief that brood parasitic adults abandon their offspring a t the time of laying. The hypothesis that species that participate in courtship feeding are more likely to precision young was not supported : provisioning of young has been observed in two species of brood para sites that do not courtship feed. The function of this provisioning is unknown, but we suggest it may be: (1) a non-adaptive vestigial behav ior or (2) an adaptation to ensure adequate care of parasitic young. T he former is more likely the case. Further studies are required to det ermine whether parasitic adults commonly feed their genetic offspring.