Natural History Wanderings

ScienceDaily reported on how cuckoos have striped  or barred feathers to mimic local birds of prey. It is believed that the cuckoos may do this to frighten birds into briefly abandoning their nest so the cuckoos can lay their parasitic eggs. (Cuckoos are known for laying their eggs in the nests of other birds and getting the other birds to raise their young). The cuckoos seem of vary their feathers based on who the neighboring birds of prey are. Birds the cuckoos have developed plumage patterns to mimic include sparrowhawks, bazas, and harrier-hawks.

Read more at Science Daily Cuckoos impersonate hawks by matching their ‘outfits’.