Birds are usually monogamous (a pair stays together) and also take care of their offspring together. A female’s hormones bind her to her eggs. Males often assist them in gathering food and defending the nest from nest robbers. Sometimes the male also helps to teach the young to fly and teaches them to provide their own food. Often the female also takes on these tasks on her own. She takes care of everything, except for hatching the eggs.
Reproduction
Migratory and resident birds
Half the life of birds is focused on reproduction. Both migratory birds ??? these breed in our country and migrate to other regions due to weather conditions and lack of food, in spring or summer they return ?? like resident birds
?? they remain permanently in their ecological environment. They have a hard time in the winter. But people can do something about that by feeding them? spend a lot of time and energy on reproduction. As the days lengthen and the temperature rises, the biological clock in birds starts ticking.
Nesting
They start by collecting twigs, grasses and other materials and build a nest. Bird couples often do this together. Places in trees or in nesting boxes are sought. When living or walking in the area, one sees the constant flying back and forth of the birds to make things right. Several bird species like to use ready-made nesting boxes. It saves them a lot of work. Many types of nesting boxes are for sale in garden centers. For the garden.
Shared tasks
Breeding and foraging for food
The tasks are distributed perfectly. After mating, it is usually the female that hatches the laid eggs. With some birds this is done in turn and the other provides food. This is the case with most songbirds.
In many cases the male provides the food and defends the nest against nest robbers. Later he will also help with making the boy fly. Both father and mother do flying exercises with the boy. If the young are very fast, the parents also quickly stop the food supply and the young have to take care of themselves.
Couples only
In some cases the male only comes to mate. If there is no use in staying, it leaves again to reproduce elsewhere. An example of this is the duck. In the spring, drakes are often seen chasing the females ruthlessly. Being young ducks nesters. Within a few days they stand on their own two feet and follow their mother neatly when she goes looking for food. Who does not know the endearing scene of a mother duck with her young in her wake. The father duck is therefore not necessary. He can leave again. No problem, he will find another female.
Polygyny, polyandry and promiscuous behavior
Polygyny
When a lot of food can be found at a breeding site, the male interferes much less with the preparations for breeding. He is then more often polygyn, it mates with several females. These males chase intruders from their territory and lure the females. They often do that with a beautiful feather headdress. You will also see colorful chest and neck markings. Sometimes their crop is bloated and very bright in color. Many species also perform mating dances.
Polyandry
In other cases, it is a female mating with multiple males (polyandry). Yes! That also happens.
Promiscuous
Also, both males and females can promiscuous exhibit behavior. She courtship (bait dance) then with each other for a long time, mate and part again. These birds take so much time to lure, courtship and mate that the education of their children is wasted. They often have to take care of themselves quickly.
Living in a colony
Birds that live in a colony and therefore also mate and breed, have a great advantage: many birds can worry that predators (intruders) do not disturb their society. The colony also forms a day-care center when the parents go in search of food. Other birds then provide protection and against the possible cold. Often parents also use peers for the education of their children. Usually these are youngsters from previous litters, but they can also be strange congeners. They then teach the young to provide food, fly or swim. For them this is gaining experience before they start the reproductive cycle themselves.
Depending on the ecological conditions, birds therefore form breeding pairs. The circumstances also determine the way in which the young are raised. Birds that get very old (such as parrots and large birds of prey) bond for life. By trusting in each other, they can give their youngsters a good, thorough upbringing.