THICK-BILLED WARBLER (PHRAGAMATICOLA AEDON, PASSERIFORMES, ACROCEPHALIDAE) AS A HOST SPECIES FOR COMMON CUCKOO (CUCULUS CANORUS, CUCULIFORMES, CUCULIDAE) IN THE MIDDLE AMUR RIVER BASIN

摘要

Thick-billed warbler (Phragamaticola aedon) is known as one of the main host species for common cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) in the environs of Khabarovsk (the Russian Far East). The interaction of these species in the Middle Amur River basin is discussed for the first time. In 2013-2014, at the Khingan Nature Reserve four cuckoo eggs were found in nests of thick-billed warbler. There are also unpublished data on findings of cuckoo eggs and nestlings in nests of thick-billed warbler from the same area. The similarity of color of the parasite and host eggs confirms that thick-billed warbler is one of the main host species for common cuckoo in the middle Amur River basin. At the same time, our observations, as well as data from other researchers show that thick-billed warbler in the area studied usually recognizes cuckoo eggs and destroys it. A description of cuckoo eggs found in the Khingan Nature Reserve is given, and the problems of interactions between the nest parasite and its host species are discussed.