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Name: Ed H.
Status: other
Age: 40s

Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: 7/16/2003
Question:
If birds mate for life, what happens when a mate dies? Does it go on without a mate or does it find another mate?

Replies:
ED,

First of all, not all birds mate for life. Most do not. Crows, some owl species, and some other large birds have been known to do so.

The limited information about your requests does indicate that, in owls, new mates are found after the death of one of the pair. Many younger birds that have not mated or just entered sexual maturity seems to be the most likely new mate.

Penguin studies have supported this notion very well. How all of this is accomplished is not completely undertstood. I guess we have to learn how to speak the languages better! :-)

I hope I have helped.

Steve Sample

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