Scientists have long speculated gleefully about animal homosexuality.

Now an Australian researcher has developed a theory to explain homosexuality in birds. More than 100 bird species engage in some sort of homosexual behavior, which ranges from casual sex to child-rearing partnerships.

美国《时代》周刊8月23日报道：科学家形成鸟类同性恋的一般理论。长久以来，科学家对动物的同性恋行为做出种种幸灾乐祸的猜测。

Geoff MacFarlane, of the University of Newcastle in Australia, has found that the avian gender that spends less time raising hatchlings is the gender more likely to indulge homosexual desires. In bird species where men slept around and females raised children, males were more likely to engage in same-sex behavior. In bird species where both sexes looked after babies, females were more likely to turn their attentions towards other females.

如今，澳大利亚的一名研究人员提出了一个理论，解释鸟类的同性恋行为。有100多种鸟有某种同性恋行为，从偶发性关系到共同养育后代。澳大利亚纽卡斯尔大学的杰夫-麦克法兰发现，在养育雏鸟上花费较少时间的那一性别更可能沉溺于同性恋。在雄鸟做“甩手掌柜”、而雌鸟忙于养育雏鸟的鸟类中，雄鸟更可能有同性恋行为。在雄鸟和雌鸟共同养育后代的鸟类中，雌鸟更可能把注意力转向其他雌鸟。

In less-monogamous bird species, the abundance of available partners means that homosexual behavior is less stigmatized; birds that have had same-sex flings appear to have as much reproductive success as those that have not.

在不实行严格的一夫一妻制的鸟类中，可以找到大量伴侣的情况意味着，同性恋行为不是那么可耻的事情。有同性恋行为的鸟类繁殖后代的成功率看起来与没有同性恋行为的鸟类一样。

A report on the subject from LiveScience also states that, for some birds, "homosexual alliances may even be adaptive, helping individuals defend territories, advance their social status, or get help with parental care."

在美国趣味科学网站上刊登的一篇相关报道还说，对某些鸟类来说，“同性恋关系甚至可能是一种适应性的表现，因为它有助于鸟类个体保卫领地、提高社会地位和有助于亲子养育”。