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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!


Honey bee (Apis mellifera) gathering pollen from a Sea fig (Carpobrotus chilensis), Southern California, USA, April.
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John Chan / Honey bee (Apis mellifera) gathering pollen from a Sea fig (Carpobrotus chilensis), Southern California, USA, April.
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,...