Researchers have found that female mountain chickadees are more likely to cheat on their mates with males who have better cognitive skills. This behavior, observed in a recent study published in the journal eLife, suggests that the females are seeking to improve the chances of survival for their offspring by choosing a smarter mate.

Study Findings

The study, which involved installing ‘smart’ feeders in California’s Sierra Nevadas, found that around one-third of the chicks born during the three-year study period were the result of infidelity. The researchers also discovered that the males who performed well in cognitive tests sired more young, with an average of six to seven chicks per year, compared to the less intelligent males who sired only one to two chicks per year.

According to Carrie Branch, the lead author of the study, the females’ preference for smarter males may be driven by the need to ensure their offspring have the best chance of survival. ‘The females in this mating system are showing agency, they’re making active choices about the kind of males they want to mate with, and that’s really cool to see,’ said Adelaide Abraham, a doctoral student at the University of Oxford who was not involved in the study.

Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.