Birds have evolved a variety of strategies to attract mates and find the best partner for reproduction. Two of the main ways birds attract mates are through elaborate courtship displays and by building impressive nests or bowers. The types of displays and nests/bowers differ depending on the species, but serve the common purpose of allowing potential mates to assess fitness and select the highest quality partner.
Courtship Displays
Courtship displays involve complex visual, vocal, and behavioral signals designed to showcase a bird’s fitness to potential mates. Displays serve to both attract mates and convey important information that helps in mate selection. The following are some examples of avian courtship displays:
Dances
Many species perform elaborate dance displays, including elaborate movements, vocalizations, and showing off colorful plumage. Dances indicate motor skills, coordination, and physical fitness. Some examples include:
- Cranes – Elaborate bobbing, jumping, and synchronized dances.
- Birds of Paradise – Complex pendulum displays showing off bright plumage.
- Manakins – Acrobatic dance displays often on specialized display courts.
- Grebes – Water dances involving synchronized rushing, neck waving, and more.
Plumage Displays
Bright and elaborate plumage can serve to attract mates. Dramatic plumage shows good health and strong fitness. Some examples:
- Peacocks – Famous long and colorful tail feathers fanned out in displays.
- Birds of Paradise – Dramatic plumes in vibrant colors.
- Flamingos – Bright pink feathers.
Song and Calls
Bird songs and calls play an important role in courtship. Complex songs can indicate fitness, brainpower, and vocal ability. Some examples:
- Songbirds – Beautiful and complex songs, sometimes sung in duets.
- Parrots – Wide repertoire of songs, calls, and mimicking ability.
- Manakins – Varied songs and calls made on display grounds.
- Lyrebirds – Virtuosic mimicking skills, even mimicking chainsaws and cameras.
Aerial Displays
Skillful flying shows off aerobatic skills, fitness, and motor coordination. Examples include:
- Sky-dancing of snipe and woodcocks – spirals and dives.
- Peregrine falcon stoops – diving at over 200 mph.
- Eagles locking talons and cartwheeling through the sky.
- V-formations and wave formations of many waterfowl.
These displays take a lot of energy and skill, demonstrating reproductive fitness to potential mates. The most dramatic and skilled displays tend to come from healthy individuals.
Nest Building
Many species build elaborate nests or “bowers” to attract mates. Nest building again requires fitness, skill, and cognitive ability. More complex nests signal that the builder has time and energy to construct it, as well as the resources to devote to reproduction. Some examples include:
Bowerbirds
Bowerbirds construct large stick bowers, in some cases even decorating them with colorful objects like flowers, berries, stones, and feathers. The quality of the bower signals male quality.
- Satin Bowerbirds – Decorated ground bowers made of twigs.
- Spotted Catbird – Dome or hut shaped bowers with archway entrances made of sticks and twigs.
- Fawn-breasted Bowerbirds- Avenue type bowers with twig walls and decorative objects.
Hummingbirds
Hummingbird nests are tiny architectural masterpieces, precisely woven together with spider silk on branches. More complex nests again require more time and skill to construct.
Birds of Paradise
Malesclear display areas on the forest floor, which they maintain and decorate to attract females.
Grebes
Grebes perform elaborate mating ceremonies involving presenting aquatic vegetation to each other to build floating nest platforms.
Wrens
Male wrens build multiple nests, and females select the male based on nest construction. More nests and better constructed nests increases mating success.
The displays and nests serve as honest signals of male quality. Females assess these signals and preferentially mate with the males that have the most skill, largest energy expenditures, and best building abilities. This ensures their offspring receive the best possible genes.
Conclusion
In summary, birds have evolved courtship displays like dances, plumage shows, aerial displays, and complex songs to showcase fitness to potential mates. They also build elaborate nests and bowers, with the quality of construction signaling reproductive fitness. Females observe these signals and select the mate that demonstrates the most skill and vigor through their display. This allows them to pass the best possible genes to their young. Courtship displays and nest construction are two key ways birds attract and secure mates, facilitating their reproduction and the continuation of their species.
