Q.81 A female “Spotted sand piper” courts males repeatedly. This behavior can be explained by the term
(A) polyandry
(B) polygyny
(C) monogamy
(D) sexual cannibalism

Female spotted sandpipers court multiple males during breeding season, a classic example of polyandry in avian biology. This behavior reverses typical roles, with females competing aggressively for mates while males handle incubation and chick-rearing. The correct answer to the query is (A) polyandry.​

What is Polyandry?

Polyandry occurs when one female mates with multiple males simultaneously or sequentially in a breeding season. In spotted sandpipers, females arrive first on territories, defend them aggressively, and lay clutches with different males, boosting reproductive success through higher egg output. Experienced females secure more mates, producing more chicks that successfully fledge.​

Polygyny Explained

Polygyny involves one male mating with multiple females, common in many bird species like red-winged blackbirds. Males compete for harems, while females focus on nesting; this contrasts sharply with the role-reversed polyandry in sandpipers.​

Monogamy in Birds

Monogamy features one male paired with one female for a season or lifetime, seen in species like albatrosses for shared parental duties. Spotted sandpipers forgo this, as females prioritize multiple pairings over biparental care.​

Sexual Cannibalism Clarified

Sexual cannibalism refers to females consuming males during or post-mating, as in praying mantises or some spiders, to gain nutrients. This predatory behavior has no relevance to the courtship mating strategy of spotted sandpipers.​