A male red-capped manakin performs his signature ‘moonwalk’ dance to a female.
‘Moonwalking’ Birds and Other Crazy Courtship Rituals
Whether it’s with smooth dance moves or beautiful plumage, males go the extra mile to look good for females.
There’s a reason for that: Males of most species have to work hard to impress the females, whether it’s with killer dance moves or fabulous plumage.
“The elaborateness of the courtship ritual goes hand in hand with that extreme sexual selective pressure that leads to elaborate male traits,” says John Rowden, director of community conservation at the National Audubon Society.
The female then takes her pick, thus ensuring the traits that attracted her are passed on. (Read how watching sexy males leads to better chicks.)
The specific rituals are inherited, but practice makes perfect. “There’s certainly cases where the behavior can be done without having seen it or having been coached,” says Rowden. “They have the rudiments of it, but by
