mating dance
Precopulatory movement display
A mating dance is a ritualized sequence of movements performed by animals—especially birds—to attract a sexual partner.
The peacock's display and the crane's elaborate choreography are classic examples.
The term extends to human courtship behaviors, usually with wry humor: The mating dance at the bar was painful to watch.
- bowerLeafy garden shelter
- fancy footworkAgile, intricate stepping
- courtshipSeeking another's romantic favor
- plumageBird's complete feather coat
- tail feathersPosterior flight plumes
display · showing off · put on a show · ritual · pheromones · sexual selection · manakin · natural selection · come hither · vocalization · strutting · feathers · fertility rites · bird · peacock · adaptation · species · iridescence
- animal behaviorsswimming, running, walking, jumping, flying
- animal signalsbody language, bird songs, tail wagging, whale song, wolf howl
- bird behaviorsflying, soaring, perching, nesting, migrating
- matingbreeding, courtship display, copulation, pairing, pair bonding
- mating traitssexual selection, courtship, plumage, antlers, ornamentation
- reproductionreproduction, birth, baby, egg, sperm
behavioral purpose
mating dancedominance display
Show of superior status
alarm call · fight response · flight response · grooming behavior