greenhorn

According to the notes given to me in the bird class, the general characteristics for the Family Cuckoo include fooling other birds to care for their youngs.The examples given for the Family include: Grater Coucal, Asian Koel,and Large Hawk Cuckoo.I am still confused.

Thank god birds won't sue human for defamation!

louislee

Put it this way, parasitism is just a general impression about the cuckoo family. In fact, there are sub-families under the cuckoo family.
These sub-families can be grouped as:
1) brood parasitic
2) non-brood parasitic

Greater coucal belongs to the second type, which means they build their own nests and raise their youngs themselves. ;-)

Ronaldo

Even if Coucals are said to be non parasitic species, I observed a young Lesser Coucal getting fed by a Rufescent Prinia in Thailand a couple of years ago. May be the prinia adopted that young? but this behavior seemed rather strange...

JamesLambo

I read that "on some occasions non-parasitic cuckoos parasitize other species, the parent still helps feed the chick" (Illustrated Encyclopedia Of European Birds). Perhaps being non-parasitic is not obligate. Interesting...