Just Birding lists these 8 birds as top picks for Birds That Mate for Life.
Bald Eagle
Bald eagle pairs are the power couples of the avian world. Found in North America, these birds of prey have a large fan base. People get excited when they see them in the wild and love photographing them. They are the national bird of the USA, and their noble appearance suggests that they are quite aware of their dignified status symbol. Male and females are clothing coordinated with matching brown plumage, stunning white heads, and yellow beaks.
They play and work hard together to achieve the mutual goals of living life to the fullest and raising successful offspring. When it comes to romance, bald eagle pairs really fall for each other by putting on stellar courtship performances that involve flying up to a high altitude and locking talons before tumbling in a series of cartwheels in mid-air. Bald eagles often live solitary lives throughout the year but always return to the same mate every breeding season. They remain faithful to their partners except in rare instances of impotency. They often return to the same nest every year, adding to the existing structure each time. Their nests are the largest of any North American bird and one of the largest in the world. Together, pairs raise one to three chicks per nest.
Mute Swan (pictured above)
While all swans mate for life, mute swans are the picture of classic romance. You’ve probably seen them in photographs, movies or your neighborhood pond. Courting pairs are famous for curving their long necks toward each other and creating aheart shape, as if communicating, “I love you.” They also lift their wings and gracefully bow to one another. Native to North Africa, Europe, and Asia but widely introduced to North America, southern Africa, and Australia, mute swans are beautiful birds with white plumage and orange beaks that are marked with a black knob.
It’s been said that a mute swan will grieve if its mate dies. Some experts suggest that birds don’t have emotions as we humans do. However, there is a report from a Russian zoo in 2015 of a mute swan whodied of a broken heart shortly after his mate was killed. They are called mute swans because they are not as vocal as other swan breeds, but when it comes to courting and defending their loved ones, they know how to be heard with hissing, grunting and honking. Pairs usually return to the same nest every year and share in the care of five to seven eggs.
Mourning Dove a.k.a Turtle Dove
You’ve seen those couples who are inseparable. Where you see one, you’ll see the other. The mourning doves are those “lovey-dovey” (pun totally intended) couples of the bird world. Along with other doves, they are often seen as symbols of both love and peace, two of the most important traits you need for a successful relationship. These sweet birds are light tan and gray with long, pointed tails and wings that are marked with black spots. The appearance of their plump bodies, short legs, and small beak make them easily recognized. If alarmed, they fly off quickly with their wings making a whistling sound.
Mourning doves get their name from their “mournful” cooing call. Most of the time, this is the male making the call to woo the female. He will also fluff up his feathers and bob his head when trying to win her over. Once the female accepts the male’s advances, the male will then bring her twigs to build a nest. After the female lays two eggs, both she and her partner will take turns incubating and feeding them.
Scarlet Macaw
Found in family groups in the rainforests of South America, scarlet macaws are known for being strikingly colorful birds. They sport red, blue and yellow feathers. They are noisy, funny and intelligent, and they are devoted lovers and parents. Not only do they mate for life, but scarlet macaws are attentive to one another. They share food, lick each other’s faces, and enjoy mutual preening. Other birds that mate for life sometimes are known to live separately until the breeding season, but these macaws value family life and can always be seen hanging out with one another.
When the kids come along, they usually raise two to four chicks at a time in a nest that they build in a tree hollow. Both Mom and Dad take care of their young, from incubating the eggs to feeding the nestlings. Scarlet macaws take parenting seriously and will not mate again until their current juveniles are able to live independently, which could be up to two years.
SOURCE: JUSTBIRDING.COM DREW HAINES
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