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A cuckoo chick in a Golden-bellied Gerygone’s nest

on 16th April 2011

Johnny Wee was at Singapore’s Pasir Ris Park recently where he came across a single large chick literally filling up a smallish nest (above left). When a smallish bird arrived at the nest to feed the chick, he immediately realised that this was a case of a cuckoo hijacking the nest of another bird (above right).

The cuckoo has not been identified but the host is a Golden-bellied Gerygone (Gerygone sulphurea). The smallish gerygone must have worked extra hard to source food for the large chick.

Cuckoos are brood parasites. They do not build any nests but lay their eggs in the nests of other species, first removing one of the host’s egg. When the cuckoo’s egg hatches, it will toss out any host’s chicks that are around.

The cuckoo chick subsequently fledged and was seen being fed by its adopted parents.

Johnny Wee
Singapore
April 2011

If you like this post please tap on the Like button at the left bottom of page. Any views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the authors/contributors, and are not endorsed by the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM, NUS) or its affiliated institutions. Readers are encouraged to use their discretion before making any decisions or judgements based on the information presented.

YC Wee

Dr Wee played a significant role as a green advocate in Singapore through his extensive involvement in various organizations and committees: as Secretary and Chairman for the Malayan Nature Society (Singapore Branch), and with the Nature Society (Singapore) as founding President (1978-1995). He has also served in the Nature Reserve Board (1987-1989), Nature Reserves Committee (1990-1996), National Council on the Environment/Singapore Environment Council (1992-1996), Work-Group on Nature Conservation (1992) and Inter-Varsity Council on the Environment (1995-1997). He is Patron of the Singapore Gardening Society and was appointed Honorary Museum Associate of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM) in 2012. In 2005, Dr Wee started the Bird Ecology Study Group. With more than 6,000 entries, the website has become a valuable resource consulted by students, birdwatchers and researchers locally and internationally. The views and opinions expressed in this article are his own, and do not represent those of LKCNHM, the National University of Singapore or its affiliated institutions.

Other posts by YC Wee

2 Responses

  1. The baby cuckoo is as big as the cavity in the nest. Just wondering how its biological mother can get in to lay its egg.

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