AnimalDex
en
Back to Qualities

Animal Qualities

Courtship

Ring the forest.

Animals grouped here express a similar quality through their behavior in nature. Each species still has its own principle, lesson, meaning, and field-guide page.

18 species

Bare-throated Bellbird (Procnias nudicollis) thumbnail image on AnimalDex

Bare-throated Bellbird

Species principle: Forest Volume

Ring the forest.

A voice can become a force of nature when it carries without apology.

Bare-throated Bellbirds produce extremely loud metallic calls used in courtship and territorial signaling, with males calling from exposed perches.

Blue-footed Booby (Sula nebouxii) thumbnail image on AnimalDex

Blue-footed Booby

Species principle: Blue-Foot Signal

Show the blue.

A visible signature becomes strength when it honestly signals vitality.

Blue-footed Boobies use bright blue feet in courtship displays; foot color is linked to condition, and they also plunge-dive for fish.

Great Argus (Argusianus argus) thumbnail image on AnimalDex

Great Argus

Species principle: Eyespot Theater

Open the stage.

A hidden forest floor can become a stage when the display is complete.

Male Great Argus pheasants clear display courts and show huge wings covered with eye-like spots during elaborate courtship displays.

Greater Bird-of-paradise (Paradisaea apoda) thumbnail image on AnimalDex

Greater Bird-of-paradise

Species principle: Golden Presentation

Turn branch to stage.

Attention becomes opportunity when the branch becomes a stage.

Male Greater Birds-of-paradise display long golden flank plumes and perform courtship displays on display perches to attract females.

Guianan Cock-of-the-rock (Rupicola rupicola) thumbnail image on AnimalDex

Guianan Cock-of-the-rock

Species principle: Lek Theater

Enter the arena.

Brightness becomes power when it steps into the arena.

Male Guianan Cock-of-the-rock gather at leks where they display with vivid orange plumage, raised crests, movements, and calls to attract females.

Lilac-breasted Roller (Coracias caudatus) thumbnail image on AnimalDex

Lilac-breasted Roller

Species principle: Flourish

Roll through color.

A life can announce itself through color, motion, and sky.

Lilac-breasted Rollers are brightly colored birds known for rolling aerial display flights, especially during courtship and territorial behavior in open savannah habitats.

Long-wattled Umbrellabird (Cephalopterus penduliger) thumbnail image on AnimalDex

Long-wattled Umbrellabird

Species principle: Presentation

Make the body the message.

The message changes when the whole body becomes the signal.

Male Long-wattled Umbrellabirds have large crests and long throat wattles used in dramatic courtship displays and booming calls.

Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata) thumbnail image on AnimalDex

Mandarin Duck

Species principle: Ornament

Wear the difference.

Difference becomes beauty when it is carried without apology.

Male Mandarin Ducks have ornate breeding plumage with bright colors and distinctive feather shapes used in courtship display.

Northern Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) thumbnail image on AnimalDex

Northern Lapwing

Species principle: Display Flight

Tumble the sky.

Joy becomes visible when the body writes loops in the air.

Northern Lapwings perform dramatic aerial display flights with rolling, tumbling, and calling over open fields and breeding territories.

Orchid Bee (Euglossa dilemma) thumbnail image on AnimalDex

Orchid Bee

Species principle: Scent Gathering

Gather the perfume.

Beauty is gathered one fragrance at a time by the one who keeps searching.

Male Orchid Bees collect aromatic compounds from orchids and other sources, storing scents in leg structures for use in courtship signaling.

Peacock Spider (Maratus volans) thumbnail image on AnimalDex

Peacock Spider

Species principle: Tiny Spectacle

Dance the color.

A small stage can still hold a whole universe of display.

Male Peacock Spiders raise colorful abdominal flaps and perform precise courtship dances with leg movements and vibrations to attract females.

Red-capped Manakin (Ceratopipra mentalis) thumbnail image on AnimalDex

Red-capped Manakin

Species principle: Courtship Precision

Moonwalk the branch.

A tiny stage becomes unforgettable when every step has intent.

Male Red-capped Manakins perform rapid courtship displays, including a moonwalk-like sliding dance on branches in the rainforest understory.

Regent Bowerbird (Sericulus chrysocephalus) thumbnail image on AnimalDex

Regent Bowerbird

Species principle: Preparation

Build the stage.

The stage is part of the signal.

Male Regent Bowerbirds build and decorate bowers for courtship display, using arranged objects and vivid plumage to attract females.

Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus) thumbnail image on AnimalDex

Ruffed Grouse

Species principle: Signal

Drum from cover.

Even a hidden life can send a message through the forest.

Male Ruffed Grouse produce a low drumming sound by rapidly beating their wings, usually from a log or display site, to advertise territory and attract mates.

Sarus Crane (Antigone antigone) thumbnail image on AnimalDex

Sarus Crane

Species principle: Pair Grace

Dance in pairs.

Grace deepens when two bodies keep the same rhythm.

Sarus Cranes are known for strong pair bonds and elaborate dancing displays involving bowing, calling, jumping, and synchronized movement in wetlands and fields.

Superb Bird-of-paradise (Lophorina superba) thumbnail image on AnimalDex

Superb Bird-of-paradise

Species principle: Stage Transformation

Become the stage.

Performance becomes magic when the body changes the rules of its own shape.

Male Superb Bird-of-paradise transform their appearance during courtship by spreading black cape feathers and displaying a bright blue-green breast shield while dancing.

Ugandan Kob (Kobus kob thomasi) thumbnail image on AnimalDex

Ugandan Kob

Species principle: Display Ground

Dance the lek.

The best self appears where the stage, season, and signal meet.

Ugandan Kob males gather in lekking arenas and display to females with postures, movement, and territorial behavior on open grassland.

Wilson's Bird-of-paradise (Cicinnurus respublica) thumbnail image on AnimalDex

Wilson's Bird-of-paradise

Species principle: Stagecraft

Prepare the stage.

A rare signal becomes irresistible when the stage is prepared for it.

Male Wilson’s Birds-of-paradise perform vivid courtship displays on carefully maintained display courts, using extraordinary color, posture, and movement.

Explore related indexes