A new ornithology
study has proved that same-sex animal couples are just as dedicated
and loving as opposite-sex ones.
The report, which features in the journal Behavioural Ecology
and Sociobiology, studied several pairs of zebra finches in
California.
They found that the same-sex pairs sang to and preened each
other just like heterosexual pairs. They also built nests, sing to
each other and greet by "nuzzling" beaks.
The findings are the latest example of gay lifestyles in the
animal world, suggesting that relationships are not always driven
by the desire to reproduce.
Speaking to the BBC, researcher Julie Elie from the University
of California Berkeley said that the research showed that
"relationships in animals can be more complicated than just a
male
and a female who meet and reproduce, even in birds.
"A pair-bond in socially monogamous species represents a
cooperative partnership that may give advantages for survival,"
said Dr Elie.
"Finding a social partner, whatever its sex, could be a
priority."
