Distribution of the Oriental Cuckoo gentes in Russia: a review of brood parasitism records by the host species
The article summarizes the available data on brood parasitism by Oriental Cuckoo Cuculus (saturatus) optatus across the territory of Russia and the adjacent territory of Kazakhstan. The data on egg morphology are split by the Oriental Cuckoo gentes. In the central part of the Oriental Cuckoo distribution area, all 4 of its gentes occurring in Russia have been registered. The southwestern periphery of the distribution area is occupied by the collybita gens whereas the southeastern part of the distribution area is occupied by the proregulus gens. For some zoogeographic areas, the ratio between used and available host species nests is given. In most regions, a more detailed study of Oriental Cuckoo's breeding biology is required to identify the gens on the basis of oological materials and to clarify the status of the host species.