Scientific name: Rhododendron

Chinese name: Rhododendron

English name: Cuckoo

Genus: Rodents, Ericaceae.

Rhododendron is similar in shape to pigeons, but slender in shape, with a dark gray upper body and a horizontal spot on the abdomen. A foot has four toes, two toes forward and two toes backward. Fly quickly and quietly. Before and after the ear planting, it can be heard loud and somewhat desolate almost day and night, which is characterized by four sounds-"Goo Goo Goo" and "Cut the wheat quickly! Cut the wheat quickly! " "Quick broadcast valley! Hurry and sow the valley! " So it is commonly known as cuckoo. Most of them live in forests in tropical and temperate regions. About two-thirds of rhododendrons, including all North American species, build nests and feed young; Only about one third of azaleas raise young birds in a parasitic way.

Parasitism in brooding is a special reproductive behavior. Birds lay eggs in other birds' nests, and their parents hatch and brood on their behalf. The meadow pipit in the photo feeds on rhododendron and belongs to the parasitic type of interspecific larvae. Rhododendron is the most representative of more than 80 species of birds. Can parasitize 125 eggs in other birds' nests

The parasitism of larvae is as follows: host selection. Rhododendron in the breeding period looks for hosts similar to those in the incubation period and brooding period. The feeding habits of chicks are basically the same, and the eggs and colors are easy to imitate. Mostly passerine birds. During the parasitic time, rhododendron lays eggs quickly before the host begins to hatch and when the host leaves the nest. In late spring and early summer, they fly north. It doesn't build its own nest or hatch its own eggs. It lays an average of 2- 10 eggs a year, but it puts the eggs in the nests of thrush and reeds and lets these birds hatch them carefully for themselves. And every time it flies to the nest, it only gives birth to one.

The co-evolution of larval parasitism is manifested in the morphological characteristics of host eggs. The eggs of parasites are different in color and size. What's the matter with you? But there is no significant difference. At the same time, the host's ambiguity in distinguishing eggs is also one aspect. Have an effect on the reproduction of the host. Rhododendron usually removes an egg from the host before laying eggs, or pushes it out of the nest, forcing the host to lay eggs again. However, once the brood-parasitic chicks hatch, it has the habit of pushing the chicks out of the nest, thus enjoying the parental rearing alone, which will reduce the success rate of host reproduction.

The legendary cuckoo crying blood should be a cuckoo with four tones, commonly known as cuckoo. Because of careful study, the oral epithelium and tongue of rhododendron are red, which the ancients mistakenly thought was full of blood. When cuckoo sings, it is the time when azaleas are in full bloom, so there is a saying that the color of azaleas is dyed with blood by cuckoo's cry: "What are the contributions of azaleas and birds?" It is suspected that the blood in the mouth drips into the flowers on the branches. "("Complete Tang Poetry "Volume 759" Rhododendron "sentence)" Rhododendron sends rhododendron, like blood like Zhu. It should be that I can't stay in spring, and the night wind is cold. " (Qiu Jin)

According to Li Shizhen, "Rhododendron was born in Sichuan, and it is also found in the south today. It is dressed like a sparrow hawk, but its color is miserable and black, and there is a small crown on its red mouth. At dusk in spring, people will crow. When they crow at night, they will sing to the north, especially in Zhixia, where the sound is sad day and night. Tian Jia and others use it to promote agriculture. But insect-eating moths can't live in their nests and hide in the winter months. "

The story of "Wang Chunxin's cuckoo crying" is widely circulated among the people. It is said that there was a man named Du Yu in ancient Shu who became an emperor and became a cuckoo after his death. The name of the cuckoo probably comes from this.

Cai Xiang's poem in the Song Dynasty said: "The rain is full of plows, and those who know how to promote agriculture are not savages. It's early spring, and it's time to put on your coat and melt your calves. " Lu You also wrote a poem: "The season is too clear, cuckoos sing in the morning, spring comes to drive, the country is cultivated, the red and purple flowers are exhausted, and the green and yellow wheat ears are full." It doesn't make sense from now on. You can listen to the strings. "The cuckoo in the poem. Cuckoo Zhu Zhen, a poet in the Southern Song Dynasty, really said, "The cuckoo cries for spring return, but the blood remains after kissing goodbye." It also fully embodies the spirit of Du Fu crying earnestly and responsibly to urge people to "spread grain widely".

In spring and summer, cuckoos will crow all night. Its plaintive cries often arouse people's various feelings. In addition, the oral epithelium and tongue of cuckoo are all red, and the ancients mistakenly thought that it was full of blood, so many legends and poems about "cuckoo weeping blood" and "weeping blood deeply" were produced.