18 Animals That are 100% Monogamous

Gray Wolves

Leading the pack is gray wolves — an interesting mammal species that bestows breeding rights on the alpha pair during mating season. Studies show these wolves bond for life but when death does them part, the still-surviving partner will find a new mate quickly. It’s exceedingly rare to find an unpaired gray wolf female. 

Lovebirds

These birds come by their name honestly. Experts and scientists found that lovebirds not only feed each other and snuggle into their partner at night as a form of connection — they exhibit “erratic” behavior after separation. During these periods apart, or if their mate dies, the remaining lovebird demonstrates behavior that looks a lot like what we call depression.

Eurasian Beavers

Similar to behavior from the gray wolf packs, only one adult pair of Eurasian beavers breed in a colony. The Eurasian beaver practices both social and genetic monogamy for several mating seasons at the very least — if not their lives. Conversely, the North American beaver is only socially monogamous. 

Gibbons

The anthropoid ape, the gibbon, tends to mate for life. Like the dik-dik (mentioned below), the gibbon male may pursue a secondary sexual partner. However, they bond to the primary partner, practicing social monogamy, and partake in a complex song-courting ritual. They even reinforce their bond by grooming each other.

Atlantic Puffins

Experts and scientists widely believe that puffins mate for life. This relationship is both socially and genetically monogamous, though the puffins are more lax on their social monogamy. Puffins will migrate during the year, leaving the nest for winter and spending it alone. During the spring, however, puffin couples will rejoin each other and nest.

Shingleback Lizards

Monogamy in reptiles is rarely seen and researched. However, the shingleback lizard has provided enough evidence for scientists to believe they form short-term social and genetic monogamous relationships. Native to Australia, the shingleback lizard, otherwise known as the sleepy lizard, will choose a partner during the September to November mating season and live as a pair. They tend to re-form these pairings year after year, spending the mating season together before venturing out for the rest of the year on their own.

Sandhill Cranes

Ornithologists have a variety of species to study for monogamous relationships — one of which is the sandhill crane. Researchers describe these long-legged birds as “perennially monogamous,” which means the birds re-couple every year but do not spend their lives together. Sandhill cranes will find another mate after a “separation” period in which the mate either dies, cannot be found, or has chosen to leave (divorce).

Seahorses

Based on research, seahorses practice genetic monogamy but social polyamory. The closely related pipefish take multiple mates, but the seahorse species scientists have studied exhibit “strict genetic monogamy.” 

Barn Owl

Another avian love story is the barn owl. Flashy and performative in their courting, barn owls will demonstrate advertising calls, chase females, and “pretend fight” to prove their worthiness. Once coupled, barn owls remain genetically monogamous for the rest of their lives. Should one partner pass away, the other will tend to find a new mate.

Black Vultures

The ominous-looking black vulture may symbolize a harbinger of death, but it’s not a death of love. Scientists believe vultures mate for life, practicing genetic monogamy with their partner, and choose to spend more of their time with their families than other solitary individuals of the species. Vultures create a “happy family” of sorts with juveniles maintaining contact with their parents even after they leave the nest by foraging in their social groups and attempting to return to the nest.

Dik-diks

Again, monogamous mammals are in short supply. Though only a bit of research exists on dik-dik relationships, the mammal appears to be socially monogamous, with the females of the species being genetically monogamous as well. Experts found that males, on the other hand, pursued options for extra-pair copulation (OPC) partners when the opportunity presented itself. However, in OPC relationships, the “father” figure does not offer his paternal help. His priority is his mate, and the secondary partner simply continues his line.

Albatrosses

Despite over 90% of avian species practicing some sort of monogamy, the albatross has a reputation for its strict monogamy. However, the monogamy of an albatross is only socially monogamous. Scientists and experts used to believe they were genetically monogamous as well, but albatrosses engage in OPC outside of their life pair.

Scarlet Macaw

The iconic species that screams “parrot,” the scarlet macaw is a genetically monogamous species. They flock together in a larger group at night to sleep to stay safe, so they’re not strictly socially monogamous.

Scarlet macaws will breed every other year and stay in the nest with their young until the hatchlings leave the nest.

Geese

Geese (and the closely related swans) are monogamous birds. Specifically, the barnacle goose, the Canada goose, and the snow goose all choose one mate for life and remain steadfastly loyal. Research even shows that geese will stay with their partner in dangerous situations if they’re injured or sick.

Pigeons

Pigeons practice both social and genetic monogamy. Unlike some of the other species on the list, the pigeon is slow to accept a new mate if their previous one dies. Pigeons take an active role in dividing the parental responsibilities in their relationships: the males will gather resources and protect the nest while the female tends to the clutch — of which they have five or six a year.

Bald Eagle

The cartwheel display of the regal bald eagle remains one of the most interesting coupling behaviors to behold. This iconic bird species mate for life, practicing social and genetic monogamy. If their mate dies, they will find another. They are solitary birds, migrating alone most of the year, but will come back to the same nest during the breeding season to produce a clutch.

California Condors

Once these birds reach sexual maturity around six years old, they will choose a mate to stay with for years… or life, depending on their region and needs. The pairs hunt for nest options together during their courtship — and the female gets to choose the place where she’d like to nest and begin caring for their clutch.

Cockroaches

Cockroaches are monogamous in both social and genetic situations. They have interesting mating behavior, including devouring each others’ wings after copulation. Scientists speculate this benefits the species, not in strength, but in creating healthy colonies together. The behavior seems evolutionary, as wings allow cockroaches to find food and escape predators. Without the wings, the safest place is next to their mate, in the safety of the colony they created together.