Gay Birds as Faithful as Straight Human Counterparts
Scientists have found same-sex pairs of zebra finches sing to and preen each other as much as
heterosexual 'couples'.
The study of finches, whose singing is thought to strengthen bonds between mates, is reported in the journal Behavioural Ecology and Sociobiology.Lead researcher Julie Elie, from the University of California Berkeley, said: "The research showed relationships in animals can be more complicated than just a male and a female who meet and reproduce, even in birds.
"I'm interested in how animals establish relationships and how they use acoustic communication in their social interactions.
"My observations of them led me to this surprising result: same-sex individuals would also interact in affiliative manners, like male-female pairs."
Julie also found when young male finches were raised in same-sex groups, more than half of them paired up with another male.
When females were introduced to their group the males ignored them in favour of their current partner.
Julie said the findings show that the birds' drive to find a mate is more complicated than just the need to reproduce.
She added: "A pair-bond in socially monogamous species represents a cooperative partnership that may give advantages for survival.
"Finding a social partner, whatever its sex, could be a priority."
Comments