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Behaviour - Animal Courtship (63) More files...
Animals use many and varied means in their courtship and mating rituals. Birds of paradise, for instance, have evolved extremely complex displays and colourful plumes, while bowerbirds focus on eleaborately decorated display grounds. Some animals present nuptial gifts, others engage in aggressive or defensive biting and punching, and many species employ loud vocalisations and bright colours.



Explore our gallery of courtship behaviour, from chilled out seals to affectionate owls and ecstatic newts!


Gannets (Morus bassanus) Saltee Islands, County Wexford, Republic of Ireland, June 2009
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Wild Wonders of Europe / Hermansen / Gannets (Morus bassanus) Saltee Islands, County Wexford, Republic of Ireland, June 2009
Mute swan (Cygnus olor) two adults on water in courtship display, Lorraine, France, January.
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Michel Poinsignon / Mute swan (Cygnus olor) two adults on water in courtship display, Lorraine, France, January.
Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis) male in breeding plumage performing a "bubbling display"which is used in both courtship and aggressive territorial encounters. The male holds its head and tail and 2 ro...
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Gerrit Vyn / Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis) male in breeding plumage performing a "bubbling display"which is used in both courtship and aggressive territorial encounters. The male holds its head and tail and 2 ro...
Mountain Gorilla (Gorilla beringei) male and female after mating. Rwanda, Africa
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Andy Rouse / Mountain Gorilla (Gorilla beringei) male and female after mating. Rwanda, Africa
Rock beauty angelfish (Holacanthus tricolor) pair at dusk performing their courtship dance with the larger male circling the female, Georgetown, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, British West Indies. Cari...
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Alex Mustard / Rock beauty angelfish (Holacanthus tricolor) pair at dusk performing their courtship dance with the larger male circling the female, Georgetown, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, British West Indies. Cari...
Little owl (Athene noctua) pair perched, courtship behaviour, Spain
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Dietmar Nill / Little owl (Athene noctua) pair perched, courtship behaviour, Spain
Pair of European bee-eaters (Merops apiaster) with courtship offering of insect prey, Pusztaszer, Kiskunsagi National Park, Hungary
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Bence Mate / Pair of European bee-eaters (Merops apiaster) with courtship offering of insect prey, Pusztaszer, Kiskunsagi National Park, Hungary
Gannet (Morus bassanus) breeding pair during part of their elaborate courtship ritual. Saltee Islands, Republic of Ireland, May.
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Andrew Parkinson / Gannet (Morus bassanus) breeding pair during part of their elaborate courtship ritual. Saltee Islands, Republic of Ireland, May.
Hippos courting {Hippopotamus amphibius} Masai Mara NR, Kenya.
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Anup Shah / Hippos courting {Hippopotamus amphibius} Masai Mara NR, Kenya.
Lioness (Panthera leo) resting on a fallen tree with a courting male. Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya, July
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Anup Shah,Anup Shah / Lioness (Panthera leo) resting on a fallen tree with a courting male. Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya, July
Maasai Giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis tippelskirchi) courtship displayMaasai Mara, Kenya, Africa
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Andy Rouse / Maasai Giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis tippelskirchi) courtship displayMaasai Mara, Kenya, Africa
Male Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostrus) rubbing his sensitive snout on a larger female during courtship. The female's calf looks on, below. Three Sisters Spring, Crystal River, Florida,...
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Alex Mustard / Male Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostrus) rubbing his sensitive snout on a larger female during courtship. The female's calf looks on, below. Three Sisters Spring, Crystal River, Florida,...
European hares (Lepus europaeus) courtship chase, UK, February. Highly commended Animal Behaviour category, British Wildlife Photographer of the Year Awards (BWPA) 2013
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Andy Rouse / European hares (Lepus europaeus) courtship chase, UK, February. Highly commended Animal Behaviour category, British Wildlife Photographer of the Year Awards (BWPA) 2013
Grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) pair, Donna Nook, Lincolnshire, UK, November 2008
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Wild Wonders of Europe / Geslin / Grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) pair, Donna Nook, Lincolnshire, UK, November 2008
Grey-crowned crane pair (Balearica regulorum) Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya. December
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Anup Shah / Grey-crowned crane pair (Balearica regulorum) Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya. December
Dusky dolphins (Lagenorhynchus obscurus) courting pair leaping from the sea, Kaikoura, Canterbury, New Zealand, January.
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Brent Stephenson / Dusky dolphins (Lagenorhynchus obscurus) courting pair leaping from the sea, Kaikoura, Canterbury, New Zealand, January.
Alpine Newts (Triturus alpestris) male and female displaying courtship behaviour, Captive. From Traversari lake, Campigna National Park, Emilia Romagna and Tuscany regions, Italy
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Fabio Liverani / Alpine Newts (Triturus alpestris) male and female displaying courtship behaviour, Captive. From Traversari lake, Campigna National Park, Emilia Romagna and Tuscany regions, Italy
Rock beauty (Holacanthus tricolor) pair spawning, with the male rubbing against the flank of the female during the spawning rise, Georgetown, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, British West Indies, Caribbe...
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Alex Mustard / Rock beauty (Holacanthus tricolor) pair spawning, with the male rubbing against the flank of the female during the spawning rise, Georgetown, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, British West Indies, Caribbe...
Impala (Aepyceros melampus) male jumping during rut. Masai Mara, Kenya, Africa.
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Andy Rouse / Impala (Aepyceros melampus) male jumping during rut. Masai Mara, Kenya, Africa.
Magnificent Frigatebird (Fregata magnificens) male displaying, red throat pouch inflated. Galapagos
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Ole Jorgen Liodden / Magnificent Frigatebird (Fregata magnificens) male displaying, red throat pouch inflated. Galapagos
Ruff (Philomachus pugnax) male in full display. This was the dominant male at the lek. Varanger, Norway, June.
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Roger Powell / Ruff (Philomachus pugnax) male in full display. This was the dominant male at the lek. Varanger, Norway, June.
Satin Bowerbird (Ptilonorhynchus violaceus) male depositing blue pen at bower, Lamington NP, Queensland, Australia, September
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David Tipling / Satin Bowerbird (Ptilonorhynchus violaceus) male depositing blue pen at bower, Lamington NP, Queensland, Australia, September
Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) slapping the surface during courtship battle, Sea of Cortez, Baja California, Mexico
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Mark Carwardine / Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) slapping the surface during courtship battle, Sea of Cortez, Baja California, Mexico
Male Andean Cock-of-the-Rock (Rupicola peruvianus) displaying. Cock-of-the-Rock Lodge, Peru, August.
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Hermann Brehm / Male Andean Cock-of-the-Rock (Rupicola peruvianus) displaying. Cock-of-the-Rock Lodge, Peru, August.
Blue footed booby 'dancing' display (Sula nebouxii) Galapagos
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Nick Garbutt / Blue footed booby 'dancing' display (Sula nebouxii) Galapagos
King cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) male and female courtship, Agumbe, Karnatka, India, captive
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Sandesh Kadur / King cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) male and female courtship, Agumbe, Karnatka, India, captive
Green poison arrow frog {Dendrobates auratus} female stroking male's back, courtship, Panama
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Neil Bromhall / Green poison arrow frog {Dendrobates auratus} female stroking male's back, courtship, Panama
Pyrenean mountain newt / brook salamander (Calotriton / Euproctus asper) mating pair, captive, from Pyreneen mountains, France and Spain, near threatened
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Daniel Heuclin / Pyrenean mountain newt / brook salamander (Calotriton / Euproctus asper) mating pair, captive, from Pyreneen mountains, France and Spain, near threatened
American alligator {Alligator mississippiensis} courtship behaviour, captive, Florida, USA
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Steven David Miller / American alligator {Alligator mississippiensis} courtship behaviour, captive, Florida, USA
Couch's Spadefoot (Scaphiopus couchii) adult at night calling with vocal sac inflated. Laredo, Webb County, South Texas, USA, April.
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Rolf Nussbaumer / Couch's Spadefoot (Scaphiopus couchii) adult at night calling with vocal sac inflated. Laredo, Webb County, South Texas, USA, April.
Great crested grebe (Podiceps cristatus) pair performing courtship display at dawn, backlit with surrounding by mist, Cheshire, UK, March
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Ben Hall / Great crested grebe (Podiceps cristatus) pair performing courtship display at dawn, backlit with surrounding by mist, Cheshire, UK, March
Peacock, a male Peafowl (Pavo cristatus) displaying. Kona, Hawaii, USA, April
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Diane McAllister / Peacock, a male Peafowl (Pavo cristatus) displaying. Kona, Hawaii, USA, April
Lesser flamingos (Phoenicopterus minor) courtship dance. Lake Bogoria, Kenya. Picture taken during filming for BBC ^Life^ TV Series, May 2008 Not available for ringtone/wallpaper use.
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Barrie Britton / Lesser flamingos (Phoenicopterus minor) courtship dance. Lake Bogoria, Kenya. Picture taken during filming for BBC ^Life^ TV Series, May 2008 Not available for ringtone/wallpaper use.
Pair of Puffins (Fratercula arctica) in courtship ritual on grassy clifftop. Iceland, June
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Steve Knell / Pair of Puffins (Fratercula arctica) in courtship ritual on grassy clifftop. Iceland, June
Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) male passing fish to female during spring courtship behaviour, Hertfordshire, England, UK, March. Sequence 1 of 6.
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Andy Sands / Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) male passing fish to female during spring courtship behaviour, Hertfordshire, England, UK, March. Sequence 1 of 6.
Mating pair of King Penguins (Aptenodytes patagonicus) on Gold Beach, South Georgia Island, Sub Antarctica.
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Carol Walker / Mating pair of King Penguins (Aptenodytes patagonicus) on Gold Beach, South Georgia Island, Sub Antarctica.
King / Imperial Cormorants (Phalacrocorax albiventer) breeding pair display courtship behaviour in the form of a ritual dance at their nesting site on Saunders Island, Falkland Islands
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Charlie Summers / King / Imperial Cormorants (Phalacrocorax albiventer) breeding pair display courtship behaviour in the form of a ritual dance at their nesting site on Saunders Island, Falkland Islands
Northern gannets (Morus / Sula bassanus) portrait of individual with a courting pair in foreground, UK, Bass Rock, Scotland, Portrait category winner in the British Wildlife Photography Awards BWPA co...
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Ben Hall / Northern gannets (Morus / Sula bassanus) portrait of individual with a courting pair in foreground, UK, Bass Rock, Scotland, Portrait category winner in the British Wildlife Photography Awards BWPA co...
Waved Albatross (Phoebastria irrorata) courtship, Punta Cevallos, Española Island, Galapagos Islands, Critically Endangered
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Pete Oxford / Waved Albatross (Phoebastria irrorata) courtship, Punta Cevallos, Española Island, Galapagos Islands, Critically Endangered
Two White storks {Ciconia ciconia} courtship on nest, The Barruecos, Malpartida de Cáceres, Spain. Sequence 1/3.
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Jose B. Ruiz / Two White storks {Ciconia ciconia} courtship on nest, The Barruecos, Malpartida de Cáceres, Spain. Sequence 1/3.
Trumpeter Swans (Cygnus buccinator) in winter morning mist, showing aggression during courtship behaviour, Mississippi River, Minnesota, USA, February
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LYNN M. STONE / Trumpeter Swans (Cygnus buccinator) in winter morning mist, showing aggression during courtship behaviour, Mississippi River, Minnesota, USA, February
Wandering albatross (Diomedea exulans) displaying. Bird Island, South Georgia, Antarctica
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Doug Allan / Wandering albatross (Diomedea exulans) displaying. Bird Island, South Georgia, Antarctica
Japanese crane pair displaying {Grus japonensis} Akan, Japan
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David Pike / Japanese crane pair displaying {Grus japonensis} Akan, Japan
Red-throated diver (Gavia stellata) adult pair displaying on breeding loch, Flow Country, Highland, Scotland, UK, June. Did you know? The Flow Country of Caithness and Sutherland is home to the larges...
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Mark Hamblin / 2020VISION / Red-throated diver (Gavia stellata) adult pair displaying on breeding loch, Flow Country, Highland, Scotland, UK, June. Did you know? The Flow Country of Caithness and Sutherland is home to the larges...
Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) male and female pair on water, courtship behaviour, Kuusamo, Finland, May
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Markus Varesvuo / Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) male and female pair on water, courtship behaviour, Kuusamo, Finland, May
Black necked stilt {Himantopus mexicanus} pair mating, Welder Wildlife Refuge, Sinton, Texas, USA
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Rolf Nussbaumer / Black necked stilt {Himantopus mexicanus} pair mating, Welder Wildlife Refuge, Sinton, Texas, USA
European brown hare (Lepus europaeus) female boxing male during courtship, UK (non-ex)
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Andy Rouse / European brown hare (Lepus europaeus) female boxing male during courtship, UK (non-ex)
Asiatic Lions courtship behaviour. (Panthera leo persica) New Delhi Zoo.
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Ashok Jain / Asiatic Lions courtship behaviour. (Panthera leo persica) New Delhi Zoo.
Spanish ibex (Capra pyrenaica) courtship, Sierra de Gredos, Spain, November 2008
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Wild Wonders of Europe / Widstrand / Spanish ibex (Capra pyrenaica) courtship, Sierra de Gredos, Spain, November 2008
Brazilian Tapirs (Tapirus terrestris) in water. The male at the rear is courting the female. Captive. Medellin Zoo, Antioquia, Colombia.
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Roland Seitre / Brazilian Tapirs (Tapirus terrestris) in water. The male at the rear is courting the female. Captive. Medellin Zoo, Antioquia, Colombia.
Male Carola's Parotia (Parotia carolae) bird of paradise displaying on his display court to five females perched above, Crater Mountain Wildlife Management Area, Eastern Highlands Province, Papua New...
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Tim Laman / Male Carola's Parotia (Parotia carolae) bird of paradise displaying on his display court to five females perched above, Crater Mountain Wildlife Management Area, Eastern Highlands Province, Papua New...
Magnificent Bird of Paradise (Cicinnurus magnificus) male at calling perch near his display court. Huon Peninsula, YUS Conservation Area, Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea.
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Tim Laman / Magnificent Bird of Paradise (Cicinnurus magnificus) male at calling perch near his display court. Huon Peninsula, YUS Conservation Area, Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea.
Wallace's Standardwing Bird of Paradise (Semioptera wallacei) male at his display site in the rainforest canopy, Halmahera, Indonesia.
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Tim Laman / Wallace's Standardwing Bird of Paradise (Semioptera wallacei) male at his display site in the rainforest canopy, Halmahera, Indonesia.
Great Bowerbird (Chlamydera nuchalis) male performing a peripheral display around his bower while holding a red plastic cap. James Cook University Campus, Townsville, Queensland, Australia, Sept 2009
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Tim Laman / Great Bowerbird (Chlamydera nuchalis) male performing a peripheral display around his bower while holding a red plastic cap. James Cook University Campus, Townsville, Queensland, Australia, Sept 2009
Male Vogelkop bowerbird (Amblyornis inornata) inspects the decorations outside his bower. Vogelkop Peninsula, West Papua, Indonesia. Picture taken during filming for BBC "Life" TV Series, September 20...
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Barrie Britton / Male Vogelkop bowerbird (Amblyornis inornata) inspects the decorations outside his bower. Vogelkop Peninsula, West Papua, Indonesia. Picture taken during filming for BBC "Life" TV Series, September 20...
Wood Warbler (Phylloscopus sibilatrix) adult displaying begging / courtship behaviour and calling, perched on branch in Oak (Quercus) woodlands, Snowdonia NP, Wales, UK, May.
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Andy Rouse / Wood Warbler (Phylloscopus sibilatrix) adult displaying begging / courtship behaviour and calling, perched on branch in Oak (Quercus) woodlands, Snowdonia NP, Wales, UK, May.
Jackdaw courtship {Corvus monedula} Cornwall, UK
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Ross Hoddinott / Jackdaw courtship {Corvus monedula} Cornwall, UK
European bee-eater (Merops apiaster) courtship display of mating pair, Germany
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Dietmar Nill / European bee-eater (Merops apiaster) courtship display of mating pair, Germany
Hooded merganser (Mergus / Lophodytes cucullatus) male displaying in breeding plumage, presumed wild bird at Radipole Lake RSPB reserve, Weymouth, Dorset, England, January 2009
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Guy Edwardes / Hooded merganser (Mergus / Lophodytes cucullatus) male displaying in breeding plumage, presumed wild bird at Radipole Lake RSPB reserve, Weymouth, Dorset, England, January 2009
Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna) male displaying to female, in shallow coastal water, Finland, April
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Markus Varesvuo / Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna) male displaying to female, in shallow coastal water, Finland, April
Black grouse (Tetrao tetrix) male displaying at lek, Cairngorms National Park, Grampian, Scotland, UK, April
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Mark Hamblin / 2020VISION / Black grouse (Tetrao tetrix) male displaying at lek, Cairngorms National Park, Grampian, Scotland, UK, April
Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) male displaying at dusk, UK March
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Andy Rouse / Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) male displaying at dusk, UK March
Male Greater Prairie-Chicken (Tympanachus cupido) displaying on a lek. During the 'Booming' display males produce sounds through their air sacs, but also by stamping their feet, wing-shaking, and ta...
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Gerrit Vyn / Male Greater Prairie-Chicken (Tympanachus cupido) displaying on a lek. During the 'Booming' display males produce sounds through their air sacs, but also by stamping their feet, wing-shaking, and ta...