Monogamous birds switch partners for reasons similar to human breakups, scientists say
Affairs or lengthy spells apart commonly spell divorce for human couples – but it seems similar factors play a role in breakups among birds.
It is thought more than 90% of bird species generally have a single mate over at least one breeding season, if not longer. However, some monogamous birds switch to a different partner for a subsequent breeding season despite their original mate remaining alive – a behaviour labelled “divorce”.
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