Do birds mate for life? We've all heard it countless times: Certain species of birds mate for life, including geese, swans, cranes, and eagles. ... Lots of monogamous bird species cheat, and some “divorce”—but at rates much lower than humans. About 90 percent of bird species are monogamous, which means a male and a female form a pair bond. Reference: Do Birds Mate for Life? » Bird Watcher's Digest Aug 6, 2019