Editing Behavioral ecology (section)

====Polygyny====
In birds, polygyny occurs when males indirectly monopolize females by controlling resources. In species where males normally do not contribute much to parental care, females suffer relatively little or not at all.<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Lightbody | first1 = J.P. | last2 = Weatherhead | first2 = P.J. | year = 1988 | title = Female settling patterns and polygyny: tests of a neutral-mate-choice hypothesis | journal = American Naturalist | volume = 132 | pages = 20–33 | doi=10.1086/284835| s2cid = 84147769 }}</ref> In other species, however, females suffer through the loss of male contribution, and the cost of having to share resources that the male controls, such as nest sites or food. In some cases, a polygynous male may control a high-quality territory so for the female, the benefits of polygyny may outweigh the costs.<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Verner | first1 = J. | last2 = Wilson | first2 = M.F. | year = 1966 | title = The influence of habitats on mating systems of North American passerine birds | journal = Ecology | volume = 47 | issue = 1| pages = 143–147 | doi=10.2307/1935753| jstor = 1935753 }}</ref>