[mou-net] Cowbirds & bison

I had written in a recent post: "Cowbirds are quite common. Habitat is forest edges, also farm yards. Originally they apparently co-evolved with bison and it has been hypothesized they developed their parasitism as a mechanism to breed and leave their young behind as they followed the bison." Whil

Re: [mou-net] Cowbirds & bison

Brood parasitism is indeed found in cowbirds from South America, where the genus *Molothrus* probably originated, and so although it follows that brood parasitism almost certainly evolved in that genus in the first place for reasons other than because they needed to follow a wandering mammal, the B

Re: [mou-net] Cowbirds & bison

For a different perspective, I recommend Dennis Paulson’s essay on the topic. I can also recommend a few more scientific papers that say essentially the same thing. > On Apr 22, 2021, at 10:49 P.M., Laura Erickson