Puffins are essentially monogamous. Each year, the female comes back to the burrow first, and clears it out, evicting any rabbits who have taken up residence over the winter. Then the male arrives.
If the male doesn't turn up on time, however, the female will take a toyboy, and string him along for a little while. If the original male turns up very late, having spent too much time larking it up with the boys, he gets thrown out on his ear, and the toyboy becomes the new mate. However, if the original male is just a bit late, it's the toyboy who gets shown the entrance to the burrow.
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Date: 2007-05-17 08:26 pm (UTC)If the male doesn't turn up on time, however, the female will take a toyboy, and string him along for a little while. If the original male turns up very late, having spent too much time larking it up with the boys, he gets thrown out on his ear, and the toyboy becomes the new mate. However, if the original male is just a bit late, it's the toyboy who gets shown the entrance to the burrow.