Golden-crowned kinglets (Regulus satrapa) are tiny songbirds native to North America. They are members of the kinglet family (Regulidae) and get their name from the bright yellow and orange stripes on the top of their heads. These active little birds are a common sight flitting quickly between branches and foliage as they forage for insects and spiders.
Many animal species form lasting pair bonds for mating and raising young. This monogamous mating system is common among birds, with around 90% of bird species demonstrating social monogamy. In these lifelong partnerships, the male and female cooperate to build nests, incubate eggs, and care for hatchlings. Several factors may drive monogamous behavior in birds, including the need for bi-parental care of altricial young that require extensive feeding and protection in the nest.
So do golden-crowned kinglets form lifelong pair bonds and mate for life? Or do they have a different mating system?
Quick Answers
Do golden-crowned kinglets mate for life? No, golden-crowned kinglets do not mate for life. They are serially monogamous, forming short-term pair bonds that last for one breeding season.
What type of mating system do golden-crowned kinglets have? Golden-crowned kinglets are serially monogamous. They form monogamous breeding pairs but only for one nesting season before finding new mates in subsequent years.
How long do pairs stay together? Pairs stay together for one breeding season, long enough to build a nest, lay and incubate eggs, and raise one brood of young to independence.
Do both parents care for the young? Yes, both the male and female golden-crowned kinglet feed and protect the hatchlings and fledglings.
Golden-Crowned Kinglets are Serially Monogamous
Research into the mating habits of golden-crowned kinglets has shown that they do not mate for life. Instead, they display a mating system known as serial monogamy.
In serial monogamy, a male and female form an exclusive pairing and cooperate to reproduce. However, this monogamous bond only lasts for one breeding season. In subsequent seasons, the birds will find new mates.
During the breeding season, which aligns with spring and summer, the male and female golden-crowned kinglet work together to:
- Build an intricate pendular nest out of moss, lichens, spider silk, and feathers.
- Lay and incubate a clutch of 5-12 eggs for around 16 days.
- Feed the hatchlings as they grow over a period of 16-19 days in the nest.
- Protect and provide for the fledglings as they leave the nest and learn to fly and forage.
Caring for offspring is extremely demanding for the small kinglet pair. But by sharing duties, they can successfully raise young. Studies show that offspring survival increases when both parents are present to feed and guard nestlings.
However, once the breeding season ends, the bonded pair will go their separate ways. The male and female do not remain together over winter or reunite the following spring. Instead they seek new mates each season.
Why Golden-Crowned Kinglets Aren’t Lifelong Mates
There are several possible reasons why golden-crowned kinglets engage in serial monogamy instead of lifelong pair bonding:
High Mortality Rates
Golden-crowned kinglets have very high annual mortality rates. Up to 70% of adults die each year from predators, disease, accidents, exposure and other threats. With such low year-to-year survival rates, it is unlikely the same breeding pair could remain together for life.
Limited Breeding Season
Golden-crowned kinglets only breed during the few months of spring and summer. After this short mating window, there aren’t opportunities for bonding social interactions like nest building until the next year. The long period apart makes it difficult to maintain a permanent pair bond.
Lack of Territoriality
Some lifelong monogamous bird species remain paired year-round to defend shared nesting and feeding territories. But golden-crowned kinglets are not territorial so they have no habitat-based reason to stick together outside the breeding season.
Winter Flocking
In winter, kinglets form mixed foraging flocks with other species. The opportunities to interact with many individuals reduce the chances of remaining with the previous mate.
Comparison to Other Bird Mating Systems
How does serial monogamy differ from other types of bird mating systems? A comparison helps highlight the temporary, seasonal nature of kinglet pairs.
Lifelong Monogamy
Most famously displayed by albatrosses, swans, and eagles, lifelong monogamy involves birds sticking with one mate year after year. These birds actively reunite each breeding season and may even stay together during winter. Lifelong monogamy is common when both sexes invest heavily in raising offspring.
Polygyny
In polygynous systems, one male mates with multiple females sequentially within a single breeding season. The male does not provide paternal care. This system is typical in species like peacocks, turkeys, and Phainopepla.
Polyandry
With polyandry, a female bird will mate with multiple males in one breeding season and none of the males contribute to offspring care. Polyandry occurs in species like jacanas, phalaropes, and dotterels.
Polygynandry
In rare polygynandrous systems, both males and females have multiple mates per breeding season. Neither sex contributes to care of the young. This type of promiscuous mating happens in some grouse and lyrebirds.
Mating System | Pair Bond Duration | Offspring Care |
---|---|---|
Serial monogamy | One breeding season | Biparental |
Lifelong monogamy | Multiple years | Biparental |
Polygyny | One breeding season | Only female |
Polyandry | One breeding season | Only female |
This comparison shows that while serially monogamous birds like golden-crowned kinglets form temporary breeding pairs, they still exhibit biparental care by both the male and female.
Conclusion
In summary, golden-crowned kinglets demonstrate a mating system called serial monogamy. This means a male and female kinglet form a monogamous pair bond, cooperate to build a nest and raise offspring, but only remain together for a single breeding season before finding new mates. Serial monogamy occurs due to high mortality rates, the short breeding season, lack of feeding territories, and opportunities to interact with many birds in winter flocks. So while kinglet pairs demonstrate devoted cooperation in caring for their young, this behavior only lasts for one nesting season and does not represent a lifelong mating bond.