A female (left) and male acorn woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus) Norbert Wu / Minden / naturepl.com
Male acorn woodpeckers that share mates with their brothers live longer lives, have better quality homes and father more baby woodpeckers than those that choose a monogamous lifestyle.
Most acorn woodpeckers (Melanerpes formicivorus) form lifelong partnerships with a single mate, but about a third of females and half of males opt for breeding in sibling groups, sharing one or more mates with their sisters or brothers. ÒÁÈ˾þÃs used to think males in these groups were trading their chance of paternity for comfort – gaining…
