27 Q 11

Briefly describe an example of polygyny and an example of polyandry among birds.

Polygyny is a male having many females to reproduce with during mating season; the females take care of the eggs. Polyandry is females having many males to reproduce with during mating season; the males incubate the eggs.

In polyandry, the femal bird establishes a territory and many males come to her territory to mate with her. The males build nests in various locations around her territory, and she lays one clutch of eggs for each male. The males guard the nests with their clutch of eggs until the babies hatch. This is actually very rare in the United States. -SE

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