What happens to the cuckoos egg after it is laid?

* The Cuckoo Lays the Egg: The cuckoo, a brood parasite, will find a host bird's nest and lay its egg within it. She chooses nests of birds that are similar in size and color to her own.

* Mimicry: The cuckoo egg often closely resembles the host bird's eggs in color, pattern, and size. This is a form of mimicry that helps the cuckoo egg blend in and avoid being detected.

* Host Bird's Response: The host bird often accepts the cuckoo egg as its own. She will incubate it along with her own eggs.

* Hatching: The cuckoo chick hatches first, often a few days before the host bird's chicks.

* Eviction: The cuckoo chick is much larger and more developed than the host bird's chicks. It will immediately begin to evict the host's eggs or chicks from the nest, sometimes by pushing them out or throwing them over the edge.

* Host Bird Care: The host bird, unaware that the cuckoo chick isn't its own, will continue to feed and care for the cuckoo chick.

* Growth: The cuckoo chick grows rapidly and will eventually be the only occupant of the nest.

* Leaving the Nest: Once the cuckoo chick is fully grown, it will leave the nest and the host bird will be left with no offspring.

This is a fascinating example of a parasitic relationship in nature. The cuckoo's strategy, while harsh, ensures its own survival and reproductive success.