5 really wild courtships

The enigmatic song of the humpback is commonly believed to be used to attract females. They hum, mouths clamped shut, while twisting and turning in the ocean currents, pectoral fins obediently flowing behind. Their operatic song can travel thousands of miles across entire oceans.

The humpback’s performance can be observed in many tropical locations including Baja California, Mexico, and Hawaii between mid-December and March.

The king bird of paradise looks as though it’s come from a child’s colouring book – with violet feet, a chilli-red coat and an emerald-green ring on its white breast. Not only does the male have an elaborate appearance but also a very extravagant courtship ritual.

Super-thin tail wires with green disks on the end are lifted and swirled around (much like in cartoons when birds fly around a recently bruised head). The male accompanies this by puffing out its feathers into a neck ruff before splaying his wing feathers and swinging upside down like a pendulum.

There is probably no other courtship that is quite so full of vibrancy and ingenuity. Papua New Guinea’s king bird of paradise is considered vulnerable but can still be seen courting between September and April, deep in the rainforest.

Galápagos penguins make good use of the warm climate and abundance of food, therefore there is no specific breeding season. They mate year round, producing up to three clutches annually.

The bird is fairly unmissable, with a jet black coat and a golden yellow head-dress. Regent bowerbirds mate seasonally and inhabit the subtropical rainforests of coasts and hinterlands of New South Wales and Queensland.

Florida alligators are restricted to the brackish, swampy waters of the Everglades. Mating season is in July and should always be viewed from the safety of a boat.

Main image: Humpback whale (Shutterstock)