ON my regular walks up the Ochil glens at this time of year, I sometimes see bullfinches by areas of woodland edge.

They almost always hang around in pairs, and if you see one, then the chances are its opposite sex partner won’t be too far away. I’m not sure why bullfinches should exhibit such lifetime fidelity when most other song birds don’t. Although on thinking about it, such a strategy does save vital energy in spring by not having to look and go courting for a new mate. An established pair will also know their breeding area intimately and the best places to find food.

Jackdaws too are faithful birds. They often pair up in their first autumn but won’t actually mate and lay eggs until their second year of life. It’s a bit like a long engagement. Although jackdaws congregate in large flocks in autumn and winter, usually in consort with rooks, the pair still stays together as a unit within this swirling mass of birds. If you look closely at a flock of jackdaws, it is even possible to detect the closeness of these pairs. Apparently, single jackdaws that haven’t paired up, or those who have lost their partner, have a lower social status in the flock than couples.

Geese and swans generally mate for life, as do eagles. Ospreys do things a little differently. Whilst they form long-term pairings, they migrate to and from their wintering grounds in West Africa separately and don’t seem to spend the winter together either.

Surprisingly, I can’t think of any Scottish wild mammals that exhibit total fidelity. Foxes and badgers do so to a degree, but they are certainly not relationships set in stone, and if the opportunity arises, then they are not averse to a bit of playing away from home.

The long-tailed tit shows a most interesting piece of breeding behaviour. Failed breeders, who have perhaps lost their nest by predation, often turn into ‘helpers’ by feeding the young long-tails at a nearby nest. It is thought likely that they are related to the long-tailed tits they are helping out. They might have missed their chance to breed, but at least they can throw their hat into the ring by feeding their relatives.