Legend to figures:
Figure 1: Temporal distribution of broods of each focal host species along the breeding season. Data from 8 consecutive breeding seasons. Blue dots and red triangles represent non-infected and infected broods, respectively. Week 0 refers to the week of the spring equinox (September in the southern hemisphere). Pi. sulphuratus (Great Kiskadee) is the optimal host, Ph. sibilatrix (Little Thornbird) the bad alternative host and Ph. ruber (Greater Thornbird) the good alternative host.
Figure 2: Predicted burdens of first instar larvae (L1) on bad alternative hosts (Little Thornbird) (a and b ) or good alternative hosts (Greater Thornbird) as a function of host demand (parasite abundance) and the co-existing number of broods of optimal hosts (Greater Kiskadee) (a and c ) and good alternative hosts (b ).