How 'Bad Parenting' Among Birds Could be Evolution at Work

Many will argue that there is no worse parent than one who abandons their child - especially for selfish reasons. Unfortunately, evolution doesn't select for what we think is "right" but for what works best. Now, new research has found that not only is abandoning a chick to be raised by others beneficial for zebra finches, but it may even be a trait that is selected for - improving the species as a whole.