courtship display
Attraction ritual behavior
A courtship display is a pattern of behavior performed by an animal to attract a mate, often involving elaborate visual, auditory, or physical demonstrations.
Birds are especially known for these rituals—peacocks fan their tail feathers, bowerbirds construct decorated structures, and many species perform intricate dances or songs.
The term extends metaphorically to human behavior when someone makes showy efforts to impress a romantic interest: His constant gift-giving was quite the courtship display.
- bowerLeafy garden shelter
- vocalizationsSounds produced by voice
- gift-givingOffering presents to others
- posturingInsincere behavior for effect
- plumageBird's complete feather coat
tail feathers · pheromones · territoriality · visual signals · bioluminescence · serenades · avian · mating call · sexual selection · mimicry · bowing · feathers · scent marking · dance rituals · love dance · chasing · grooming · vibrations
- animal behaviorsswimming, running, walking, jumping, flying
- animal signalsbody language, bird songs, tail wagging, mating calls, whale song
- bird behaviorsflying, soaring, perching, nesting, migrating
- peacockpeacock, peahen, tail fan, feathers, plumage
- matingmating, breeding, mating dance, mating ritual, mating calls
- Sociobiologysociobiology, natural selection, sexual selection, altruism, mating strategies
courtship displaycopulation
Sexual joining of bodies
mating · coitus · mounting · insemination · pair bonding