This Bird’s Mating Dance is Disco-Worthy

Continue reading...

Mating dances are not unusual in the bird kingdom, but the displays put on by birds of paradise are mesmerizing. The male bird in the above clip is doing his best to impress a female, and the display he puts together is awesome. Here, we will break down his moves to analyze how he does this and examine why he behaves in this way.

Bird of Paradise Mating Dances

There is no single bird of paradise – the term is used to describe a group of birds in the Paradisaeidae family. There are over 40 individual species and, as the video above illustrates, scientists are still discovering new ones. Most of them live in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, or Eastern Australia.

The male mating dance is all about showing a female how fit and healthy he is. Only strong birds who are free from disease would have such magnificent plumage and be able to form such intricate moves. Meanwhile, the female in the clip is quietly checking him out. She is looking for a strong mate who will pass on healthy genes to her offspring. What’s more, she will only mate with one male this year and he will hang around to help her raise her young. She wants a partner who is strong enough to pull his weight when it comes to childcare!

What you can see here is not a random series of moves. The male inherited his individual dance routine from his father. Then he refines it with plenty of practice and by watching other adult males.

Breaking Down the Dance Moves

The bird of paradise mating dance is a combination of color, movement, and sound so let’s look at each in more detail.

These birds can be almost any color but the individuals in the above clip are a striking black and an iridescent blue/green. Take a look at the video again, the iridescence can only be seen when the light hits the feathers at exactly the right angle. The male bird can adjust the angle so that he can turn on the colors. Display feathers are very special as are the muscles that move them. They have evolved from normal feathers and have fluffy plumes.

Shapeshifting is also a critical aspect of the dance. In the video, you can see the male transform his body into an oval shape using his muscles to move the feathers into position. This arranges the black feathers into a background that is ideal for showing off the central iridescent patch. Accompanying the display is a series of screeches and calls designed to attract the female’s attention.

Finally, we come to the dance itself. It is a carefully choreographed collection of sideways and circular moves with a lot of feather quivering and shaking. Notice how he maneuvers the female into a position directly in front of him with a flick of his feathers. He likes to have her when he can keep an eye on her as there is no point in going to all this effort if she is not paying attention!