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Courtship display

A courtship display is a set of display behaviors in which an animal attempts to attract a mate and exhibit their desire to copulate. These behaviors often include ritualized movement ('dances'), vocalizations, mechanical sound production, or displays of beauty, strength, or agonistic ability. In some species, males will perform ritualized movements to attract females. The male Six-Plumed bird-of-paradise, Parotia lawesii, exemplifies male courtship display with its ritualized 'ballerina dance' and unique occipital and breast feathers that serve to stimulate the female visual system. This stimulation, along with many other factors, results in subsequent copulation or rejection. In other species, males may exhibit courtship displays that serve as both visual and auditory stimulation. For example, the male Anna's hummingbird (Calypte anna) and Calliope hummingbird (Stellula calliope) perform two types of courtship displays involving a combination of visual and vocal display - a stationary shuttle display and dive display. When engaging in the stationary shuttle display, the male displays a flared gorget and hovers in front of the female, moving from side to side while rotating his body and tail. The rhythmic movements of the male's wings produce a distinctive buzzing sound. When conducting a dive display, the male typically ascends approximately 20–35 m (66–115 ft) in the air then abruptly turns and descends in a dive-like fashion. As the male flies over the female, he rotates his body and spreads his tail feathers, which flutter and collide to produce a short, buzzing sound. In addition, some animals attempt to attract females through the construction and decoration of unique structures. This technique can be seen in Australia's satin bowerbirds (Ptilonorhynchus violaceus), in which males build and decorate nest-like structures called 'bowers'. Bowers are decorated with bright and colourful objects (typically blue in colour) to attract and stimulate visiting females. Typically, males who acquire the largest number of decorations tend to have greater success in mating. In some species, males initiate courtship rituals only after mounting the female. Courtship may even continue after copulation has been completed. In this system, the ability of the female to choose her mate is limited. This process, known as copulatory courtship, is prevalent in many insect species. In most species, the male sex initiates courtship displays in pre-copulatory sexual selection. Performing a display allows the male to present his traits or abilities to a female. Mate choice, in this context, is driven by females. Direct or indirect benefits to the female often determine which males reproduce and which do not. Direct benefits may accrue to the female during male courtship behavior. Females can raise their own fitness if they respond to courtship behavior that signals benefits to the female rather than the fitness of the male. For example, choosing to mate with males that produce local signals would require less energy for a female as she searches for a mate. Males may compete by imposing lower mating costs on the female or even providing material or offspring contributions to the female.

[ "Courtship", "sexual behavior", "Mating", "Rabidosa rabida", "Vaccenyl acetate", "Animal Courtship", "Schizocosa", "Male courtship behaviour" ]
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