Birds get 'divorced' due to affairs

Researchers have found that male promiscuity and long periods apart contribute to monogamous birds switching to a different partner for a subsequent breeding season.

It is thought that 90 per cent of bird species generally have a single mate over at least one breeding season, but the new findings from experts in China and Germany prove that the creatures are torn apart in a similar manner to human beings.

The team found that greater male promiscuity was linked to higher 'divorce' rates, but this did not apply to promiscuous female birds.

Dr Zitan Song, a co-author of the research at the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior in Germany, said: "When a male bird is promiscuous, it is often perceived as a reduction of this commitment, as his attention and resources are divided among several females.

"This can make him less attractive as a partner, and thus more likely to be 'divorced' in the next breeding season. Conversely, a male can augment his fitness by mating with multiple females."

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