10 Animals That Fake Their Own Deaths

6. The Clever Cuckoo: Parasitic Deception

The cuckoo is notorious for its deceptive breeding strategy, known as brood parasitism. Female cuckoos lay their eggs in the nests of other bird species, leaving the unsuspecting hosts to raise their young. The cuckoo chick often hatches before the host's eggs and will eject them from the nest to eliminate competition. This cunning strategy ensures that the cuckoo chick receives all the resources and care from the host parents. The cuckoo's ability to mimic the appearance and calls of the host species' chicks further enhances this deception, showcasing a complex interplay of evolutionary tactics.