When most people think about birds courting, they imagine male birds singing and flaunting their bright, colourful plumage. But, there are many other ways to court a mate, which we can observe in non-songbirds.
I have seen male Common Goldeneye whistle, kick the water, and throw their heads back toward their rumps. Like many ducks, a mated pair will face each other and bob their heads up and down.
Male and Female Common Goldeneye
When getting ready to breed for the season, Red-tailed Hawks will look for their mate from the previous year. As part of their courtship, they fly close together. They will dangle their legs, and I have observed them tossing a mouse back and forth, which are both courtship behaviours.
Bald Eagles
Bald Eagles will lock talons and tumble through the air. That is a something I hope to see one day.
Crane courtship is an elaborate, highly choreographed dance involving jumping, bowing, wing-flapping, and stick-tossing. I have watched Sandhill Cranes engaging in these displays. It is a beautiful thing to watch.
Male Northern Flicker
Woodpecker courtship involves loud, rhythmic drumming on hollow trees or the siding of horses, to attract a mate. Pairs engage in wing-fluttering, head-bobbing, and aerial chases. One time, there was a Northern Flicker drumming on our roof. It sounded like someone was drilling through our shingles.
Male Ruby-throated Hummingbird
A male Ruby-throated Hummingbird will perform dramatic aerial displays, such as high-speed “U-shaped” dives and shuttle flights. I have been dazzled, when they are flashing their red gorgets at females.
This spring, see how many of these or other behaviours you can observe as birds conduct their varied mating rituals.
Note: All photos are from Wikipedia Commons, an online source of copyright-free photos: Sandhill Crane (top of article) by USFWS/Southeast; Common Goldeneyes by Marie-Lan Taÿ Pamart; Bald Eagles by Judy Gallagher; Northern Flicker by Wildreturn; Ruby-throated Hummingbird by Paul Danese.
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