- Beauty versus behavior - (1)
Chupim/ Shiny Cowbird (Molothrus bonariensis), also known as Azulego, Maria-preta, and an incredible variety of names, is a passerine bird in the Icteridae family.
Features
It measures between 17 and 21.5 centimeters in length and weighs between 44.9 and 63.7 grams.
The adult male is bluish-black, but depending on the lighting, only black is seen. The female is dark brown. It can be confused with the black bird (Gnorimopsar chopi), but this one is larger and has a more elongated, thin beak with a groove in the lower jaw.
It has seven recognized subspecies.
Food
It has an omnivorous diet, feeding mainly on insects and seeds, but occasionally eats fruits and flowers. Usually frequent feeders with seeds and broken corn. It can also feed on ticks on capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris).
Reproduction
The Chupim is known to lay its eggs in the nests of other bird species so that they can hatch, raise and feed them as if they were their own chicks, a process known as nest parasitism.
The period between July and December marks the beginning of reproduction, but it is after mating that the phase for which the species is best known begins. This species does not build a nest and the female lays 4 or 5 eggs per posture, one in the nest of each host. However, in nests of Thrush (Mimus saturninus) and João-de-arro (Furnarius rufus), 35 and 14 eggs of Chupins were found, respectively. To reach the host nest, it follows the future “foster parents”.
The Tico-tico (Zonotrichia capensis) is highly parasitized and the advantageous adaptation for the Chupim is the laying of its egg before, or on the same day, that of the first egg of the host.
As the incubation period is 11 or 12 days, one less than that of the tico-tico, its young, which is much larger, is born earlier. In this way, the baby bird can eliminate its Tico-tico companions from the nest or receive more food, having a greater probability of survival.
In Brazil, more specifically in Rio Grande do Sul is where the species is found with great frequency, due to rice plantations. Another curiosity in Rio Grande do Sul is the name "Chupim" to people who take advantage of the situation to take advantage of other people.
- Beauty versus behavior - (1)
Chupim/ Shiny Cowbird (Molothrus bonariensis), also known as Azulego, Maria-preta, and an incredible variety of names, is a passerine bird in the Icteridae family.
Features
It measures between 17 and 21.5 centimeters in length and weighs between 44.9 and 63.7 grams.
The adult male is bluish-black, but depending on the lighting, only black is seen. The female is dark brown. It can be confused with the black bird (Gnorimopsar chopi), but this one is larger and has a more elongated, thin beak with a groove in the lower jaw.
It has seven recognized subspecies.
Food
It has an omnivorous diet, feeding mainly on insects and seeds, but occasionally eats fruits and flowers. Usually frequent feeders with seeds and broken corn. It can also feed on ticks on capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris).
Reproduction
The Chupim is known to lay its eggs in the nests of other bird species so that they can hatch, raise and feed them as if they were their own chicks, a process known as nest parasitism.
The period between July and December marks the beginning of reproduction, but it is after mating that the phase for which the species is best known begins. This species does not build a nest and the female lays 4 or 5 eggs per posture, one in the nest of each host. However, in nests of Thrush (Mimus saturninus) and João-de-arro (Furnarius rufus), 35 and 14 eggs of Chupins were found, respectively. To reach the host nest, it follows the future “foster parents”.
The Tico-tico (Zonotrichia capensis) is highly parasitized and the advantageous adaptation for the Chupim is the laying of its egg before, or on the same day, that of the first egg of the host.
As the incubation period is 11 or 12 days, one less than that of the tico-tico, its young, which is much larger, is born earlier. In this way, the baby bird can eliminate its Tico-tico companions from the nest or receive more food, having a greater probability of survival.
In Brazil, more specifically in Rio Grande do Sul is where the species is found with great frequency, due to rice plantations. Another curiosity in Rio Grande do Sul is the name "Chupim" to people who take advantage of the situation to take advantage of other people.