Obligatory brood parasites are birds that reproduce by laying their eggs in the nests of other species. This book, the first in English to provide coverage on a global scale, discusses the ecological and evolutionary aspects of this remarkable behavioural adaptation.
"A comprehensive, modern review."--Choice
"Johnsgard has compiled the widely scattered literature on avian brood parasitism ... into one English language reference; the only one of its kind currently available and up-to-date.... a valuable summary."--Bird Watcher's Digest
"Given the distinctive nature and fascinating evolutionary aspects of avian brood parasitism, it is surprising that a comprehensive book on this topic has not been produced before this one . . . a requisite starting point for future researchers undertaking studies of the lesser known species. Indeed, I found the coverage of the English language literature is to be quite thorough at least to the early 1990s, and this alone is probably worth the price of the book for many users."--Ecology
"Many birds dodge the burden of parenting by laying their eggs in the nests of others . . .