brood parasitism

American  

noun

1. a form of social parasitism practiced by certain birds, as cuckoos and cowbirds, in which eggs are laid in the nests of other birds, causing them to be hatched and the young reared by the hosts, often at the cost of the hosts' own young.

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Example Sentences

It is a practice known as "brood parasitism," in which an animal furtively leaves its eggs to be raised by another species.

From Salon

In addition, birds may want signatures on their eggs for reasons unrelated to brood parasitism.

From Salon

FWS cited, in particular, the work done by Michigan state and federal agencies to boost breeding habitat and combat brood parasitism by an unscrupulous competitor species.

From Science Magazine

The warbler is also deemed "particularly sensitive" to brown-headed cowbird brood parasitism.

From Science Magazine

These papers should encourage researchers to look for more examples of brood parasitism, Cotter says.

From Science Magazine