Relationship quality underpins pair bond formation and subsequent reproductive performance

Despite the ecological importance of pair bonding, ontogeny bond formation remains poorly understood. We capitalized on long-term high-resolution tracking social interactions across replicated colonies captive zebra finches, Taeniopygia guttata, to map dynamics relationships prior reproduction and identify role that relationship quality plays in subsequent reproductive performance. found pairs developed stronger more stable outside breeding season were likely breed together form a bond. Moreover, formed initiated faster than those with less bonds, while stability length time since establishment both reduced probability divorcing. Our results demonstrate an important link between benefits may explain evolution monogamy.