Birds-of-paradise are classic examples of extreme sexual selection due to generations of females choosing mates based on 'attractiveness'. Their dance is both a feat of strength and a transcendent spectacle. Nests are often found in tree forks. The winner of this endurance test can expect attention from mottled brown females watching nearby. . And some New Guinea tribesmen do, hunting the birds for their plumes and then using them to make spectacular head-dresses (illustrated above), which they wear as they dance to the beat of drums before groups of admiring women. The females, having selected a mate, will raise the chicks on their own. The dance of the Sandhill Crane is iconic, and also extremely awkward. As the years go on, those groups grow smaller, until finally the confident birds are ready for their big finale: a partnered dance. The female bird of paradise lays her eggs in a nest. The male birds display the flexibility of their feathers and body shape, which is emphasized with bright extraordinary colors that would put a painting to shame. He might also give the object of his affection a bow, or tickle her with his beak. Then, the choice is hers: to copulate with him and then raise the brood by herself, or wait for a better show. The smallest riflebird, it measures between 23–25 cm. It might not seem very romantic, but then again, we aren’t cranes. Birds of paradise tend to be solitary birds and only come together to mate. Description. Our email newsletter shares the latest programs and initiatives. In Central American forests, male Red-capped Manakins keep their wings tucked and heads down to draw a female’s gaze to their brilliant yellow thighs—and fancy footwork. The Male Bird of Paradise has certain dance moves, and certainly a more spectacular dance there never was. The paradise riflebird (Lophorina paradisea) is a passerine bird of the family Paradisaeidae.Formerly a member of the genus Ptiloris, it has since been moved to the genus Lophorina alongside other riflebird species. Type in your search and hit Enter on desktop or hit Go on mobile device. The Wilson’s bird of paradise (Cicinnurus respublica) is a particularly beautiful example of this highly embellished family. His body is comparatively drab, but he grows two huge quills from the back of his head, each notched with blue enamel-like plates; there is nothing else like them in the bird world. Love these moves? Speak out against the Yazoo Backwater Pumps which would drain 200,000 acres of crucial bird habitat. The lesser bird of paradise (Paradisaea minor), about the size of a crow, has golden plumes that he throws above his back as he dances in the treetops, shrieking loudly. A  moonwalk that rivals Michael Jackson's. . Once the male mates with a willing female, he leaves to find yet another female. The health benefits of sunlight: Can vitamin D help beat covid-19? A new Laysan Albatross pair works hard to perfect their dance, combining stock moves like the “sky snap,” “rapid bill clapper,” and “bob strut” into a sequence unique to that couple. What is there to say about the dance of the male Greater Sage-Grouse? If you’re looking for elegance in the bird world, you can’t do much better than Western or Clark's Grebes. The male bird of paradise attracts a female bird of paradise using his bright feathers and perfected dance routine. The male begins by doing all he can to attract attention—stretching his wings behind him, bending his neck backward toward his body, and even throwing grass or clumps of dirt into the air. In both closely related species, courtship begins with one bird mirroring the other’s movements, twisting and bowing their long necks behind them. WHAT does a male have to do to attract a female? It’s the least you can do. “The views expressed in user comments do not reflect the views of Audubon. At first, young birds gather in small groups to practice. Meet NASA's latest Mars Rover: Will Perseverance find life in 2021? The plumes of the blue bird of paradise (Paradisaea rudolphi) are even more profuse. And in some species, males and females dance together to form a pair bond while putting on a show.