Four cases of interspecific mixed broods between Little Egrets (Egretta garzetta; n = 175), Cattle Egrets (Bubulcus ibis; n = 125), Squacco Herons (Ardeola ralloides; n = 25) and Black-crowned Night-Herons (Nycticorax nycticorax; n = 199) were recorded from 7 April to 16 August 2016 at two colonies in Iran. The rare occurrence of mixed broods and the low survival of the parasite chicks suggest that brood parasitism is not adaptive in the Ardeidae.
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Waterbirds
Vol. 41 • No. 2
June 2018
Vol. 41 • No. 2
June 2018
Ardeola ralloides
Black-crowned Night-Heron
Bubulcus ibis
Cattle Egret
Egretta garzetta
interspecific brood parasitism
Little Egret