▶️ Wire-crested Thorntail Hummingbird Courtship

[Donkees]

[cyclonefence]

1. I love it that she's paying such close attention to his display

I wonder if part of birds' displays like this, with spreading of feathers to make the male seem four times his size, imparts to the female that he is big enough to protect their nest? If transmission of genetic material is what it's all about for all of us, it seems to me to be a good idea to advertise how how big and strong he is.

[EarnestPutz]

2. He puts so much into that first bit that he poops from the exertion at the 1:02 mark.

[Donkees]

3. ''the male's only involvement in the reproductive process is the actual mating with the female...''

Hummingbirds are solitary in all aspects of life other than breeding; and the male’s only involvement in the reproductive process is the actual mating with the female. They neither live nor migrate in flocks; and there is no pair bond for this species. Males court females by flying in a u-shaped pattern in front of them. He will separate from the female immediately after copulation. One male may mate with several females. In all likelihood, the female will also mate with several males. The males do not participate in choosing the nest location, building the nest or raising the chicks.

https://beautyofbirds.com/wire-crestedt-horntails/