Last Updated on November 30, 2022
Macaws usually appear in pairs and do not show any signs of polygamy. But are they monogamous, or do they show polygamous behavior in any situations?
Macaws are monogamous, and both mates remain faithful and dedicated to each other for life. However, if the pair fails to reproduce or one is lost, the other mate can form a pair with another macaw.
Macaws show polygamous behavior in some situations
As already mentioned, in some situations, macaws show polygamous behavior, let’s discuss them in detail.
When a mate is lost
The absence of one partner can cause the other bird to look for a new partnet. This usually happens when one of the bird is either shifted to another cage or the it gets lost in the wild for some reason. If the old mate returns after a while, the macaws show polygamous behavior for some time. Later one of the mates leaves and forms pair with another bird.
When the pair can not reproduce
If the breeding occurs successfully, the relationship becomes strong. But if for some reason, the pair fails to reproduce for a very long time, both birds leave each other and find new mates for reproduction. During this search for new mate, sometime, one of the mate can have the old mate and the new mate both at the same time for some duration. Later they permanently settle with the new mate and leave the old mate.
Final thoughts
Macaws are genuinely monogamous and their reasons for showing polygamous behavior are also understandable.
Bilal is an aviculturist who loves to write in free time. His personal experience with bird care and breeding enables him to share valuable tips. So far, he has contributed more than 100 blogs to this site.
His goal is to promote bird-keeping and save endangered species.