courtship displays

Romantic attraction rituals

Courtship displays are behaviors animals perform to attract mates—elaborate dances, songs, plumage presentations, or ritualized movements.

Peacocks fan their tails, bowerbirds build decorated structures, fireflies flash patterns.

The term extends to human romantic behavior, usually with wry awareness of the comparison: His courtship display involved expensive dinners and carefully curated playlists.

Opposites
behavioral function

courtship displayswarning signals

Indicators of impending hazard

alarm calls · dominance displays

social intent

courtship displaysaggressive behavior

Hostile or threatening conduct

fighting · territorial defense · combat · dominance displays · fleeing

reproductive strategy

courtship displaysparental care

Offspring protection and nurturing

celibacy · asexual reproduction

Family

court, display, courtship, courtly

Familiarity
Top 200,000
Profile
Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Rated G