Over 90% of birds are monogamous, but that does not necessarily mean they all mate for life. For starters, many birds do not live long enough to search for a different mate each breeding season, either due to short lifespans or because they die early for external reasons like predation.
However, some species of birds live for a long time and stay together throughout their lifetime. They will not only raise their eggs and young together but sometimes will not even mate again if their previous partner passes away.
It is important to note that out of all the above examples, there are instances where an individual bird will leave their partner or even mate with other members of their species while being in a relationship with a particular individual. This list has been made keeping in mind what the majority of birds of that species do.
FAQs
1. Do cardinal birds mate for life?
While cardinal birds often stay together for multiple breeding seasons, they do not necessarily mate for life.
2. Do mockingbirds mate for life?
No. Depending on the individual, a mockingbird may change its partner during the next breeding season or stay with the same mate for multiple seasons.
3. What backyard birds mate for life?
While considerably larger than your average backyard bird, several swans and geese stay with the same partner for their entire lives.