The eggs of the cuckoo (koel) have evolved to resemble crow's eggs in size and color. If the parasite bird has laid its eggs in the nest of host and lets the host to incubate them. This is an example of:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → Brood parasitism
Option (1) Mutualism — Incorrect. In mutualism both partners gain; here the crow loses, raising young that are not its own.
Option (2) Competition — Incorrect. Competition is a fight for the same limited resource, harming both.
Option (3) Commensalism — Incorrect. In commensalism the other partner is neither harmed nor helped; the host bird is harmed here.
Option (4) Brood parasitism — Correct. The parasitic bird lays its eggs in the host’s nest and lets the host incubate them. Over time the cuckoo’s eggs have evolved to look like the crow’s, so the host does not throw them out.
NCERT Extract:
Population Interactions – …
