Curious Animal Courtship Rituals

Male peacocks dance and show their brilliant plumage to attract females. Courtship relies on brilliant colors and elaborate designs.

Peacock

Male bowerbirds decorate their bowers or nests with bright flowers, feathers, or man-made goods.

Bowerbirds

Giraffe males "necking" each other utilize their long necks to swing their heads and necks. Winners typically get to mate with women.

Giraffe

Fireflies court via bioluminescent signals. Males flash light, and females reply in patterns. Synchronization causes mating.

Fireflies

Male dancing flies give females prey as a "nuptial gift". Quality of gift affects female partner choice.

Dance Flies

Male honeybee drones form "drone congregations." They attract queens via pheromones.

Honeybees

Male birds-of-paradise parade with brilliant plumage, unusual calls, and complicated dances. They perform visually stunningly to attract women.

Bird-of-Paradise

Male pufferfish flail their fins to form intricate underwater "crop circles" to attract mates. The female checks the pattern before laying eggs.

Pufferfish

Swipe Up For More Stories