How Birds Cooperate to Defeat Cuckoos

Why help another when you can help yourself? Cooperation is very common in nearly all life, from genes and cells to humans and other animals. However understanding why can be difficult: being selfish seems more rewarding. In a new study published in Science, we investigated whether the evolution of cooperative breeding in birds could be linked to defending their nests.

Cooperative breeding is when three or more individuals contribute to the care of young. While this happens in many animals, it is the social system of approximately 9% of birds, and is particularly prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa and Australasia.


However, understanding why evolution drove such behaviour remains controversial. Some studies have linked its occurrence with variable and unpredictable environmental conditions, while others have linked it to stable and predictable conditions.

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