Striped Cuckoo

Striped cuckoos parasitize birds that build enclosed nests - wrens, ovenbirds, and spinetails whose domed structures would seem to prevent parasitism. Yet striped cuckoos successfully infiltrate these protected nests, demonstrating that host defensive architecture can be overcome through specialized access strategies.

The enclosed nest specialization reveals niche partitioning among parasites. Different cuckoo species target hosts with different nest architectures, reducing interspecific competition. Striped cuckoos face less competition from parasites unable to access enclosed nests, but pay the cost of specialized access behavior.

The business parallel applies to exploiting protected market segments. Some markets seem impervious to parasitism - regulatory barriers, technical requirements, or relationship moats appear to prevent exploitation. Yet specialists who develop access strategies can exploit these 'enclosed' markets precisely because other parasites cannot. The very barriers that deter competition enable exploitation by those who overcome them.

Striped cuckoos also demonstrate that protection creates complacency. Hosts with enclosed nests show weaker egg recognition - they evolved less sophisticated defenses because architectural protection seemed sufficient. Protected markets similarly may have weak internal defenses, having relied on barriers rather than vigilance. Breaching the barrier exposes vulnerable interiors.