Do all birds mate for life?
No. Some species have unusually strong pair bonds between mated birds. These species include some eagles, cranes, swans, geese, and ravens. Being mated “for life” means, really, for as long as both birds are alive. When one of the pair dies, the other will take a new mate. Most North American bird species pair up primarily to reproduce, and go their separate ways soon after they have nested. In some species, such as the ruby-throated hummingbird, the pair bond is very brief. In the case of the rubythroats, the pair bond lasts only as long as courtship and copulation. The male has nothing to do with the incubation or raising of the young birds. For answers to the most commonly asked bird questions, get a copy of The Backyard Bird Watcher’s Answer Guide.
