What birds are monogamous?
Rockhopper penguins remain faithful to their partners even when separated by thousands of miles. Many other birds are considered monogamous. But in many cases this does not prevent them from sleeping around.
Not all penguins are the same
We don't know how faithful these Galapagos penguins are to each other. But we now know that rockhopper penguins are monogamous, even when they are thousands of miles away from their loved ones. Researchers used tiny transmitters to follow the birds around. Even after being separated by thousands of miles, the love birds found each other once again to mate some more.
The early male bird catches the female
Around 90 percent of all birds are socially monogamous - but no more than ten percent also exercise chastity outside the partnership. Bluetit females, for example, like to leave the nest in the early morning - while the male is still asleep - for a quicky in the neighborhood. If there's a male already up and singing, his chances for a brief affair are quite good.
Till death do swans part?
Swans form lifelong bonds. The males defend their nests with vigor. But the bird, which stands as a symbol for love and fidelity, also often has "extramarital" affairs. This is good for the gene pool of the birds. And the females make sure that all the eggs are fertilized.
Breeding as a common task
Swans belong to the family of geese. Almost all geese are socially monogamous. But unlike the Swans, most geese do not share the task of building nests together. That is work for the females. Therefore, both care for the ducklings - regardless if they carry the father's genes.
Infidelity in a swarm
Most parrots live in large swarms, because that provides protection for the birds. Inside the swarm, the parrots form lifelong monogamous partnerships. But here, too, an affair is always possible.
Male storks are well prepared
The male stork arrives several days before the female does at its traditional nesting place, which the monogamous couple returns to - for well over a decade. Then the male prepares the nest. Only after the preparations will the female arrive. Because storks are usually not in great flocks, an affair is less likely than with other birds.