The difference that is hypothesized to explain the observation that social monogamy is rare in mammals but common in birds is the need for biparental care.
Social monogamy refers to a social and sexual relationship between two individuals of the same species in which both individuals contribute to the care of their offspring.
In many species of mammals, males typically do not contribute significantly to the care of their offspring, and females are responsible for providing all of the necessary care. This is because the energy demands of pregnancy and lactation are high, and females need to devote a significant amount of time and resources to caring for their young. In contrast, many species of birds have a more equal division of labor between the sexes, with both males and females contributing to the care of their offspring.
This is often because the energy demands of producing eggs are lower than those of producing offspring in mammals, and because birds can often forage for food while leaving their young in the nest.
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