Birds get 'divorced' due to affairs.
Birds get 'divorced' for the same reasons as humans
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."