#QueerAnimals

Monogamy as the norm? Not in the natural world. For the dunnock, caring for the chicks is the main priority. That is why there are all sorts of different partnerships: sometimes a female mates with several males (this is called polyandry), sometimes a male mates with several females (polygyny). Often, two or more males work together to help raise the young – even if they may not actually be the father. This is because the female mates with several partners, so it is often unclear who the father is. This is by no means an isolated case; many bird species do not live in monogamous pairs.