The world of wildlife behavior is ever-changing, and all kinds of sexual behaviors can be seen everywhere. For birds, the World Wildlife Fund found that about 90 percent of species choose monogamy as a breeding strategy. That's a huge number, compared to just 5 percent for mammals.
The idea behind why birds are usually monogamous is that the parental time investment required to raise chicks is so great. One parent needs to hatch eggs in the nest, while the other parent needs to collect food for the chicks, and the chicks need to collect food after hatching. When the chicks leave the nest, it's almost breeding season again, and there's little time to find a new mate.
Since most birds are monogamous, we picked 15 of the most romantic lifelong companions. Pour yourself a glass of wine, dim the lights, turn on the romantic music, and we're about to meet nature's cutest bird:
<h1 class="pgc-h-decimal" data-index="01" data-track="5" > black vultures</h1>
Vultures are not usually considered beloved birds – in fact, their reputation is rather bad. However, black vultures can give humans a lesson or two in love, because a pair of lifelong partners who are bound together stay together as much as possible throughout the year. During courtship, male vultures extend their necks around courtship female vultures and then swoop toward them.
<h1 class="pgc-h-decimal" data-index="01" data-track="10" > Marcoroni penguin</h1>
As with birds in general, most penguin species mate for life. However, Marconi penguins (also known as royal penguins) take their love relationships to the next level, showing a "sign of ecstasy" when they see each other after they are separated, and they bulge their chests, shake their heads, and make grunting sounds. Once their chicks hatched, the father stayed with the children while the mother set off to find food for the family.
<h1 class="pgc-h-decimal" data-index="01" data-track="13" > California Condor</h1>
Like all the birds on the list, the California condor is usually a lifelong mating bird. However, if the couple fails in breeding, they will find another mate on their own terms. During the courtship process, these giant gliders fly around together in search of the perfect nesting location – of course, the female glider has the final say!
The California condor is one of the largest birds in the world and the largest bird of prey.
<h1 class="pgc-h-decimal" data-index="01" data-track="18" > albatross</h1>
Another famous monogamous bird is the albatross. These birds spend most of their lives at sea because they know that every year when the breeding season comes, they will have a loyal, loyal lifelong companion. The albatross shows true loyalty to their partner, and the couple performs an intimate dance together once a year!
<h1 class="pgc-h-decimal" data-index="01" data-track="22" > swan</h1>
Swans are considered a symbol of love – when two swans meet, their necks even form a heart! During courtship, the swans bend their necks to each other, spread their wings, and bow to each other. Once combined, the pair of swans usually live together for a lifetime, and once they lose their mate, the surviving swans go through a process of grief that humans can recognize. Once the grief is over, the swan may find another partner, join the flock, or spend the rest of its life alone.
<h1 class="pgc-h-decimal" data-index="01" data-track="26" > goose</h1>
Geese attach great importance to the idea of lifelong mating. Canada geese are so loyal to their mates that if a goose is injured or sick and unable to fly, their partner will usually refuse to leave them, guarding them until they recover or die — even as winter approaches, the rest of the flock begins to migrate south. Like swans, geese go through a sad process, and some geese spend the rest of their lives as widows or widowers and never mate again.
<h1 class="pgc-h-decimal" data-index="01" data-track="30" > big vulture</h1>
The vulture is a symbol of America and a symbol of eternal love. When they first encounter a male and female vulture, they flip and spin together in the sky and clench their claws (or hands?). ）。 After this display, they spend the winter alone each year and meet their partners during the breeding season.
Male vultures stay behind after breeding to help keep their eggs warm and feed chicks in the first few months after birth. The bald eagles, who also pride themselves on being at home, maintain the same breeding nest throughout their lives, adding this structure every year as a symbol of their enduring relationship.
These birds are among the largest eagles in the world.
<h1 class="pgc-h-decimal" data-index="01" data-track="34" > dune crane</h1>
Sand dune cranes stand out among the monogamous flocks of birds that emit sweet music in the form of "calling in unison" to express love to their partners. This quarrel between husband and wife helps them find each other in large groups and strengthens their relationship for a lifetime.
<h1 class="pgc-h-decimal" data-index="01" data-track="40" > red-crowned crane</h1>
The red-crowned crane is the tallest bird in North America, which helps them perform the most complex courtship dances in the animal kingdom. Their elaborate dances come in the form of jumps and bounces, and when the performance brings fun to their dance partners, they become lifelong companions.
<h1 class="pgc-h-decimal" data-index="01" data-track="44" > barn owl</h1>
Barn owl are loyal birds whose courtship behavior is considered particularly romantic by humans. Both males and females make special sounds to each other to indicate their interest (males scream, females croak), while male barn owls bring their potential mating gifts – dead mice. Once these birds find a mate, they are destined to be a lifelong companion.
<h1 class="pgc-h-decimal" data-index="01" data-track="48" > lovebird</h1>
The smallest birds on this list, they're called "lovers birds" for a reason, guys! Lovebirds are very affectionate birds, and once they form a couple (after reaching sexual maturity at 10 months of age), their eyes will only be fixed on their partner. They spent the rest of their lives in the most monogamous relationship of any African parrot.
<h1 class="pgc-h-decimal" data-index="01" data-track="52" > pigeon</h1>
Yes, these common birds (some city dwellers might say it's a pest!). ) is a lifelong mating bird. They may not be as fascinating as many of the other birds on the list, but they are also monogamous, breeding with the same mate up to 8 times a year. Between hatching their eggs and raising their chicks, it's no wonder they don't have time to think about other partners!
<h1 class="pgc-h-decimal" data-index="01" data-track="57" > monk parrot</h1>
The monastic parakeet (also known as the Quaker parrot) is a social animal that lives in large groups, however, in groups, males and females form a strong monogamous relationship. These relationships are maintained through a series of incredible combing through each other.
<h1 class="pgc-h-decimal" data-index="01" data-track="61" > Crimson Macaw</h1>
The Crimson Macaw is the largest of all parrots and seems to be one of the most romantic. These brightly colored parrots mate for life and raise one or two chicks together each year. When they're not caring for children, they spend a lot of time maintaining an intimate relationship between them, and each other is well dressed.
<h1 class="pgc-h-decimal" data-index="01" data-track="68" > Atlantic puffin</h1>
Puffins usually, though not always, breed with the same mate every year before going out to sea in winter to forage. It is not known whether the breeding puffins spent the six months together at sea or separately, but puffins are on this list because the puffins are used to rubbing their beaks against each other in public to show affection... This must be love!
This is our list of beloved birds. Is there anything that surprised you? Or should we add anything to this list? Let us know in the comments section below.