EGG VARIABILITY AND CONSPECIFIC NEST PARASITISM IN THE PLOCEUS WEAVERBIRDS

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Abstract
Freeman, S. 1988. Egg variability and conspecific nest parasitism in the Ploceus weaverbirds. Ostrich 59: 49–53. Intra-specific egg variability is high in some of the Ploceus weaverbirds. This variability could be an evolved response to either inter-specific or conspecific nest parasitism (INP or CNP). Several lines of evidence suggest that CNP is widespread in Ploceus, and when species within the genus are compared, both the degree of egg variability and the frequency of odd-egg clutches—two indications of the intensity of CNP—seem to increase with increasing nest density. These patterns suggest that the ability to find appropriate host nests may constrain conspecific parasites in these species.