(adjective) The condition of having only one mate or breeding partner.
As it relates to birds, being monogamous means staying loyal to a mate during the breeding and nesting season from the time of courtship through laying the eggs, incubating the brood and caring for the young hatchlings until they leave the nest. The degree of monogamous behavior varies for different species: many will stay monogamous for an entire season even when raising several broods, while others may only remain monogamous for a single brood, even if multiple broods are raised each year. Most bird species, even monogamous ones, will seek out new mates the following year, or else they will renew their bonds together through elaborate courtship displays. Some bird species, including Canada geese and various swans, will remain monogamously mated to the same partner for several years, possibly until death unless the pair is unable to produce chicks successfully.
Monogamous pairs of birds frequently share the duties necessary to raise their young. Building the nest, incubating the eggs and feeding the young birds will be done by both male and female parents, though not always in equal proportions.
