Birds may ‘divorce’ because of promiscuity or long spells apart

Monogamous birds switch partners for reasons similar to human breakups, scientists say

Affairs or lengthy spells apart commonly spell divorce for human couples - but it seems similar factors play a role in breakups among birds.

It is thought more than 90% of bird species generally have a single mate over at least one breeding season, if not longer. However, some monogamous birds switch to a different partner for a subsequent breeding season despite their original mate remaining alive - a behaviour labelled divorce".