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00:00 Hey, guess you!
00:03 Have you ever seen a bird of paradise dancing for a female before?
00:07 No, not this one.
00:08 I'm talking about the real-life birds of paradise.
00:11 These guys don't mind letting loose to woo a female.
00:14 Likewise, once grown, many species of birds find themselves overwhelmed with the primal
00:19 urge to bust a move.
00:21 Some would even gather in leagues, just like in nightclubs, to dance and pique the interest
00:26 of nearby females.
00:28 While others simply perform feats of endurance and strength to prove they're worthy mates.
00:33 And in other birds, both the male and female dance together as a pair while putting on
00:37 a show.
00:38 Without wasting any more time, we present you with a sampling of the best bird mating
00:42 dances out there.
00:44 Watch, learn, and you could even take a few notes.
00:47 Hello and welcome to another mind-blowing episode of Forever Green.
00:52 And in this video, we'll be showing the birds with the sickest moves.
00:55 Let's get right into it.
00:57 Number 25.
00:59 Western and Clark's Grebes
01:01 We chose to group these two species together as they are similar in more ways than one.
01:06 They showcase elegant impanche with their breathtaking mating dance.
01:10 They begin their courtship by mimicking each other's moves, twisting and bowing their
01:14 long necks behind them.
01:16 And after that, they take the choreography up a gear, like ballerinas with their point
01:20 shoes on.
01:21 They rise fully out of the water, running side by side on the water with their wings
01:25 stretched out just behind them.
01:27 Wow, it's simply amazing!
01:30 Number 24.
01:31 Sharptailed Grouse
01:32 If you're looking for the tab dancers of the bird world, look no further.
01:38 The Sharptailed Grouse is the bird you're looking for.
01:41 During the mating season, male Sharptailed Grouse gather in a group and kickstart their
01:46 show.
01:47 They start by rising up with wings outstretched, heads bowed down and their tails pointing
01:51 to the sky.
01:52 This is followed by the expansion of their purple air sacs and the rapid stumping of
01:56 their feet, kinda like a wound-up toy with their forward, backward and circular movements,
02:02 accompanied by the mechanical patter of their feet stumping the ground.
02:07 Number 23.
02:08 Ostriches
02:10 With plumage that was once as expansive as diamonds and gold, you'd understand why the
02:14 ostrich's preferred mode of seduction is the act of displaying his elegant feathers.
02:19 This low whine is all in a bid to look enticing to the female, enticing enough to win a date
02:25 or a mate.
02:26 During their mating season, the cock's plumage usually attains its brightest colors, adding
02:31 color to an already remarkable performance.
02:35 If the female likes what she sees, she raises her wings horizontally and flutters the tips
02:39 gently.
02:40 The show comes to an end with the female crouching for the male to perform the mating act.
02:46 Ostriches may be the largest birds on the planet, but when it comes to dancing, boy
02:50 do they do it gracefully!
02:53 Number 22.
02:54 Lysan albatross
02:55 If you were a Lysan albatross, such a weird name by the way, at age 3 you'd have to return
03:02 to your birthplace to start to learn a new way of courtship.
03:06 These birds have inept dancing skills good enough to woo a mate, but they just haven't
03:10 developed it yet.
03:12 Attaining puberty for them is perfecting their dance moves.
03:15 They start off by gathering in small groups to practice, and over the years those groups
03:20 become smaller until the confident birds are ready for the partnered dance, like these
03:24 guys.
03:25 Check out those moves!
03:28 The duo practice to perfect moves such as the sky snap, bobstrut, and rapid bill clapper,
03:35 in a sequence that is unique to them.
03:37 Only then can they mate and lay their eggs, typically at the age of 8 or 9.
03:42 Talk about working for that perfect relationship!
03:45 Number 21.
03:46 Jackson's Widow Bird
03:49 When these birds perform mate-finding activities, they engage in a jumping contest.
03:53 Seriously, look at them!
03:56 These Kenya and Tanzania native birds have a mating ritual as absurd yet extraordinary
04:01 as the other birds in this video, but they chose to keep things simple.
04:05 They compete in a good old-fashioned contest of jumping.
04:09 The males with their sleek, shiny black feathers gather in a field and jump as high as they
04:13 can for as long as they can.
04:15 The winner of the contest is the one with the most endurance and gets to literally go
04:19 home with one of the females watching nearby.
04:22 You think this is bizarre?
04:23 Wait till you see our number one pick!
04:26 Number 20.
04:27 Hooded Grebes
04:28 If this isn't the funniest mating display out there, I don't know what is.
04:33 These birds go bonkers with their courtship dance routine.
04:37 Their routine isn't too different from their cousins'.
04:39 They mirror the other's moves, but instead of the ballerina-esque water dance, they do
04:43 the tango, which was originated from their native Argentina.
04:47 We wouldn't know if they learned the dance from the natives or if it's the other way
04:51 around.
04:53 Number 19.
04:54 Greater Sage-Grouse
04:56 Like the frigate bird, Greater Sage-Grouse has a pouch, air sac actually, used to lure
05:01 females.
05:02 Their dance?
05:03 You've got to see it to believe it.
05:05 These massive chicken relatives don a regal look, frilly cravat of bright white feathers,
05:10 a spiked tail fin, and loads of chest they proudly display.
05:14 At first light, they gather at the leek during the mating season to perform what's known
05:18 as a strutting display.
05:20 They then make their signature plop sound by popping their brightly colored air sacs,
05:25 and the sound can be heard as far away as 3 kilometers.
05:28 This is just what is needed to attract females, given the nature of their habitat.
05:34 Number 18.
05:35 Red-capped Mannequin
05:36 Red-capped mannequin, or you can call them moonwalking mannequin, have over 50 species.
05:42 But we're not here to talk about bird species.
05:45 The bird's mating ritual is one that catches the eye, humans and female birds alike.
05:51 To attract a female, these fleet-footed brightly colored males keep their wings tucked with
05:55 heads down to get the female's attention to their yellow thighs, and of course, the
06:00 fancy footwork.
06:01 The male also has to find a leek, ward off other males, and show off his frictionless
06:06 glides and slides on the branch.
06:09 The highest point of his performance has got to be Michael Jackson's moonwalk.
06:13 Wow, this sure makes online dating look a lot easier.
06:17 Number 17.
06:19 Black-footed Albatross
06:21 All albatross species have elaborate, beautiful, and bizarre mating ritual dances.
06:26 Albatross are monogamous birds, sticking with one partner for the rest of their lives.
06:31 The black-footed albatross' journey to finding a soulmate is no different from the
06:35 laisson.
06:36 They leave home at a tender age only to return in search of a partner.
06:40 Furthermore, they share similar dance moves like the rapid bill clapper, sky snap, and
06:45 bob strut.
06:46 The only thing they added to the dance routine was the wing spread step.
06:50 Besides, they wouldn't want the lycans to think they stole their dance.
06:55 Number 16.
06:56 Puffins
06:58 In the arctics of Norway, Scotland, Iceland, Russia, and Alaska, puffins are most likely
07:04 the only birds whose courtship ritual is predominantly kissing or beak clapping.
07:09 Puffins are seabirds found in the arctic environments.
07:12 They secrete a special oil through their tail to help waterproof their feathers in order
07:17 to survive their chilly environment.
07:19 In addition to their weird choice of habitat, they practice a mating ritual called "billing,"
07:24 where the pair rub their beaks together and coo, similar to lip-locking and moaning.
07:29 Only they don't have lips and sound nothing like humans.
07:33 Number 15.
07:35 Bald Eagles
07:36 Beneath their mean and vicious facade, these raptors are quite the lovebirds.
07:41 When bald eagles fall in love, they fall hard.
07:44 Literally.
07:45 I mean, look at them!
07:49 In what is nothing short of "wow," the pair soar to a high altitude and hold hands,
07:54 sorry, talons, and cartwheel through the air.
07:57 They let go of each other just before reaching the ground.
08:01 But there have been cases where the pair are too love-drunk and don't let go until it's
08:05 too late.
08:06 This touchy ritual is meant to determine if their potential mate is fit and worthy of
08:10 the other.
08:12 Once the test has passed, the pair remain together for life, raising their family in
08:16 a nest up somewhere.
08:19 Number 14.
08:20 Prairie Chickens
08:22 Although not related to chickens, greater and lesser prairie chickens are grassland
08:27 game birds that live off the open prairie ecosystem.
08:30 And their mating dance isn't the fanciest out there.
08:33 You may have learned the chicken dance in grade school, but here's one I dare you to
08:37 try.
08:38 Male prairie chickens gather at leeks or booming sites, because of the booming calls they make,
08:44 inflate their sacks, stamp their chicken feet, bend and raise their head and tail feathers
08:49 in order to woo a female.
08:50 It's believed that this dance, which might not look like to you, is associated with the
08:55 male's cognitive function, meaning the better the dance, the smarter the male.
09:00 In short, the prairie chicken's world is likely the only one where the nerd gets the girl.
09:06 Number 13.
09:07 Costas Hummingbird
09:09 A male Costas Hummingbird, better known as Squid Face, is one that transforms in what
09:14 looks like a Chatuloo with wings when it comes to performing his mating rites.
09:19 He begins by swooping and diving over the female he's wooing and twists his body this
09:24 way and that in the air, an act that takes tons of energy and strength.
09:28 When this isn't enough, he kicks it up a gear by flexing the muscles in his face and beaming
09:33 magenta feathers flare out.
09:35 With the help of some sun rays, this becomes such a mesmerizing display for any female.
09:40 However, this female isn't like every other female.
09:43 She turns down his advances and flies away unimpressed.
09:48 Number 12.
09:49 Frigatebird
09:51 For most birds, their females sit in the nest, typically to hatch their eggs.
09:56 But with frigatebirds, the male is the one that sits in the nest.
09:59 No, it's not to hatch the eggs, rather to woo his mate.
10:03 The males possess red kidney-shaped pouches on their chest that they puff up like balloons
10:08 to attract girls.
10:09 They spend two and a half hours inflating their pouches before taking another two and
10:14 a half hours to break.
10:15 To sum it up, they sit on a nest and gyrate their chest at females flying overhead.
10:20 If the female sees the male she likes, she perches beside him.
10:24 Sometimes there are cases of their copulation being interrupted by jealous males who would
10:28 jump on her chosen partner and try to puncture his red balloon.
10:33 Number 11.
10:35 Sandhill Cranes
10:36 For sandhill cranes, their mating dance is not only iconic, but also extremely awkward.
10:42 The male starts doing what he can to get the female's attention, stretching his wings
10:47 behind him, tilting his neck towards his body, and in some cases, throwing some grass or
10:52 clumps of dirt into the air.
10:53 If he succeeds in getting the female to notice him and likes what she sees, the pair begins
10:58 their gangly dance.
11:00 Both lovebirds exchange bows and then leap into the air.
11:04 This is then followed by flapping of their wings and sometimes completing a 180-degree
11:08 mid-air turn.
11:10 This may not seem romantic or catchy to you, but then again, you're not a crane.
11:15 Who are you to judge?
11:17 Number 10.
11:18 Peafowls
11:19 What we generally prefer to call peacocks are actually peafowls, since the males have
11:25 to be called peacock and the females peahens.
11:28 In their words, "which is full of elegance and color, there's no such thing as an easy
11:32 hookup."
11:33 The females, peahen's choice of a male is dependent on the size, color, and shape of
11:38 his tail feathers.
11:40 Hence, the need for the males to be at their best, showing their best colors to the females
11:45 and wiggling their tail feathers, as if to charm her with his allure.
11:49 These wannabe fathers showcase their tails to the females at the leaks, and it's a battle
11:54 of who has the flashiest, the fanciest tail feathers.
11:57 Therefore, it's a case of sexual selection that has driven the evolution of the fancy
12:02 plumage of the peacock.
12:05 Number 9.
12:06 Bowerbird
12:07 A lot of planning goes into the mating ritual of the bowerbird.
12:11 He starts by preparing his nest by decorating it for any potential mate, and when he succeeds
12:16 in luring a female over, he begins the mating ritual proper.
12:20 First, he dilates his pupils alternately.
12:22 Next, he warms up by making a weird call from deep in his throat.
12:26 But the show wouldn't be complete without a bit of dancing.
12:30 He begins to wave his wing like a matador's cape, switching between slow and fast wing
12:34 movements to mesmerize the female.
12:37 Only when she's satisfied with his performance will they copulate, but this time there's
12:42 an intruder and the show is off!
12:46 Number 8.
12:47 Greater Bird of Paradise
12:49 In Papua New Guinea, there are several different species of the birds of paradise, each having
12:54 a unique, yet colorful courting ritual.
12:57 These birds have flipped the narrative of the female having to look attractive for the
13:00 male, and the greater bird of paradise is no different.
13:03 The greater bird of paradise, I wonder who gave them that name, anyways, uses their yellow-tipped
13:08 flank plumes, which turn white and streaked with maroon when they perform their courtship
13:13 display.
13:14 To find a mate, they make loud calling sounds to the females.
13:18 It's usually a frantic scene with several males on display, so it's up to each male
13:23 to bring his A-game to win the female's heart.
13:25 The female only picks the most extravagant and sometimes the loudest male by perching
13:30 on his branch.
13:33 Number 7.
13:34 Flamingos
13:36 This unintendingly hilarious show by flamingos is how they court their partners.
13:41 They gather in a large group, stretch their necks and throw their heads back and forth
13:45 as they take tiny, menacing steps.
13:47 They then break off in pairs to breed.
13:49 And of course, there's always that one guy at the back who doesn't follow the routine.
13:53 He's gonna be single for a while.
13:56 Number 6.
13:57 Himalayan Monal
14:00 The Himalayan Monal is a colorful, pheasant bird found in the Himalayan forests of Pakistan,
14:05 India, Nepal and other neighboring places.
14:08 Their courting involves displaying their stunning plumage colors along with some dazzling moves
14:13 such as wing flaring, shoulder-hunching and intricate dancing sequence to be the most
14:17 appealing to the females.
14:19 Something some could say they picked up from a Bollywood movie scene, especially the shoulder-hunching
14:24 thingy.
14:25 The most amazing part about this display is that it's believed that their performance
14:28 not only helps them choose the best partner, it ensures healthy offspring.
14:34 Number 5.
14:35 Blue-Footed Boobies
14:37 Blue-footed boobies have a rather shy approach to courting a female.
14:41 The male begins by shyly flashing his blue feet like a kid showing off his new set of
14:45 shoes.
14:46 Then they might give the female an object of his affection, a bow or tickle her with
14:50 his beak.
14:51 And if that isn't enough, he brings out the big guns.
14:54 He stretches his long, dark wings to frame his face, all the while subtly reminding her
14:59 of those sexy blue feet.
15:01 If she likes him enough, she'll join in the dance.
15:03 These birds are however Casanovas and can have multiple mates at the same time.
15:08 As soon as the other turns its back, they begin to scout for other prospects.
15:13 Number 4.
15:14 Great Argus Pheasant
15:16 The Great Argus Pheasants are just as rare as it is to experience their mating ritual.
15:21 These birds possess an eye-like pattern on their wings, earning them the moniker "The
15:25 Hundred-Eyed Bird" or "Phoenix" in some Asian areas.
15:29 And their mating ritual is just as legendary.
15:32 In the wild, a male first clears an open spot and prepares his stage.
15:37 He then announces his presence with loud calls to attract females.
15:41 Once he gets her attention, he dances in her presence with his wings spread like a peacock,
15:46 revealing the hundred of his flashy eye design.
15:48 Number 3.
15:49 Vogelkop Superb Bird of Paradise
15:52 The Vogelkop Superb Bird of Paradise is one of the more recently discovered species of
15:57 birds of paradise.
15:59 These magnificent birds are similar to the smiley, superb bird of paradise and so is
16:03 their mating ritual.
16:05 They hop back and forth around a perch with their cape and breast feathers transformed
16:09 into a bright blue frown-looking face as opposed to the oval-shaped smiley face of their close
16:15 cousin.
16:16 Then it's up to the female to decide.
16:18 If she likes him, she'll remain transfixed on his display, even as he bounces around
16:22 her.
16:23 Finally, she allows him to copulate without any form of resistance.
16:28 Number 2.
16:30 Magnificent Riflebird
16:31 With a name like this, the magnificent riflebird bird of paradise surely doesn't disappoint
16:37 with his courtship display.
16:38 He begins his show by stretching his elegant black wings and then drastically whips his
16:43 left and then right in a quick fashion to display his iridescent blue throat.
16:48 But this guy doesn't stop after catching the female's attention.
16:51 Even after a female approaches, he will continue dancing, flicking his wings more rigorously
16:57 while hopping toward her.
16:59 If she likes him, she'll copulate with him and then raise the brood herself.
17:03 Or she could just opt for a better show, and on this occasion, she was not impressed.
17:09 Number 1.
17:10 Western Parocha Bird of Paradise
17:12 Our number one pick is one that participates in the most intricate and strenuous rituals
17:17 in exchange for the mere chance to copulate, not unlike human males.
17:21 The six-plumed bird of paradise sets the mood by setting out bright red berries to decorate
17:26 his bachelor's pad, because he knows the ladies love bright red berries a lot.