It might seem comical or strange at first glance, but the elaborate displays of birds-of-paradise are far from random acts. These behaviors are the result of evolution, shaped by female choice and sexual selection. Male birds-of-paradise perform meticulously choreographed routines, day after day, throughout their lives, all to capture the attention of potential mates during courtship. This raises the question: what exactly constitutes a “Bird Of Paradise Dance”?
While it could be argued that any display a bird-of-paradise performs holds elements of dance, the term typically applies to actions involving more than just holding a static pose. True bird of paradise dance incorporates motion and intricate steps. Birds like Parotias offer a clear example, dancing on the ground in a manner that strikingly resembles human dance.
Consider the greater bird-of-paradise, or other members of the Paradisaeidae family. Their performances involve bouncing and pivoting on branches, turning their bodies, and dramatically displaying their cascading feathers. These dynamic movements undoubtedly qualify as dance. Even in species like Wilson’s or magnificent bird-of-paradise, where displays are often confined to a small sapling with limited lateral motion, the vertical movements and specific sequences just before mating—shifts this way and that—are considered pre-mating dances.
One fascinating aspect often overlooked is that these elaborate courtship dances are not innate behaviors birds-of-paradise are born with. Young males spend the initial years of their lives without exhibiting any courtship behavior. As they mature, they undergo physical and behavioral changes, beginning to perform rudimentary versions of the dances. While the drive to perform these displays is genetically programmed, encoded in their DNA, young birds lack the mature plumage and finesse for the full performance.
Instead, they practice. Young males engage in solitary practice, honing their movements. They also learn by observing adult males performing for real females. Furthermore, they practice with each other, with one young male taking on the female role and the other the male role. They alternate roles, practicing displays and observing in turn, for hours daily, across months and years – sometimes for three to four years. This extensive practice is crucial. Only when they develop their full adult plumage do they begin to execute the complete courtship displays we recognize and admire. It’s a remarkable combination of learned behavior, feedback from body movement, the development of their ornamental feathers, and the genetic blueprint that orchestrates both the motions and the plumage.
When we consider the traits that female birds-of-paradise select for in males, the striking feather ornaments and colors often come to mind first. However, behavior is equally, if not more, significant as a trait. These complex dance behaviors are intricate sequences of actions, genetically rooted yet refined through learning and environmental interaction. Just like feather development can be influenced by environmental factors like food availability, so too can behavioral traits be shaped and perfected.
It’s tempting to simplify and ask, “Is there a gene for a specific dance move?” While we can’t pinpoint a single gene for a “waggle” or a “psychedelic smiley face dance,” the reality is that numerous genes – perhaps hundreds or even thousands – contribute to these complex behaviors. These genes are heritable. When a female bird-of-paradise chooses a mate based on his display, she is selecting for the genes that underpin that behavior. Consequently, the male offspring are more likely to inherit and exhibit similar behaviors, mirroring their father’s traits, just as they inherit plumage characteristics.
Explore more about these incredible dances at birdsofparadiseproject.org and youtube.com/LabofOrnithology.
