Question

Crowbrds lay their eggs in the nests of smaller birds. The fast-developing cowbird chicks hatch first, then push the other nest as they hatch. The cowbird classified as a

• A. Pathogen
• B. Parasite
• C. Mutualist
• D. Commensal

Answer 1

The correct option is B Parasite

Brood parasitism in birds is an example of parasitism in which the parasitic birds lays its eggs in the nest of its host and the host incubates them. This way, the bird can save the energy that it would have spent in incubation and can use that energy in search of food and other activities. During the course of evolution, the eggs of the parasite bird have evolved to resemble the host's eggs in size and colour to reduce the chances of the hose bird detecting the foreign eggs and removing them from the nest. Laying eggs by cuckoo (koel) in crow's nest is brood parasitism. Cow birds also show brood parasitism.

So, the correct answer is 'Parasite'.