Abstract:  There are four mating systems in animals, i.e., monogamy (1 male, 1 female), polygyny (1 male, more than 1 female),
polyandry (1 female, more than 1 male), and polygynandry (more than 1 male, more than 1 female). Monogamy is defined as a
mating system in which a male and female mate with each other during a given breeding season. A polygamous mating system is
defined as one in which either males or females have more than one mate during a given breeding season. Polygamy includes
polygyny, wherein males mate with more than one female per breeding season, and polyandry in which females mate with more than
one male per breeding season. When polyandry and polygyny are occurring in the same population of animals, the breeding system is
said to be promiscuous. Yet, there are two very different kinds of promiscuity. In one form of promiscuity, both male and female mate
with many partners and no pair bonds are formed. In the second type of promiscuous breeding system, several males form pair bond
with several females simultaneously.

Key words: mating system, monogamy, polygyny, polyandry, polygynandry, lek, warbler, phylogenetic history