The Lady Birds Can't Resist

November 8, 2007 8:52 AM

The male Superb Bird of Paradise has an unusual courtship routine. First he sings. Then he hops. Finally, he busts out a spectacular finishing move, which the female finds attractive and/or totally scary.

(If an MC Hammer soundtrack isn't your thing, I recommend this alternative version of the video instead.)

posted by brain_drain (28 comments total)

Then he yells "Jazz hands!"

(sorry)
posted by eriko at 8:55 AM on November 8, 2007

The Supreme Pizza of Paradise lures a mate by having a browned crust and great toppings, plus maybe a side order of breadsticks.
posted by DU at 8:59 AM on November 8, 2007 [2 favorites]

That was pretty neat, I guess.
posted by k8t at 9:01 AM on November 8, 2007

All that work and then she leaves? What a bitch!
posted by inconsequentialist at 9:04 AM on November 8, 2007

I get the same reaction when I'm all grinding up on bitches in the club.
posted by uncleozzy at 9:05 AM on November 8, 2007

this is almost cooler than the bird from Brazil that does the moonwalk.
posted by wowbobwow at 9:05 AM on November 8, 2007 [3 favorites]

Duende!
posted by Benjamin Nushmutt at 9:06 AM on November 8, 2007

This is from the Blue Planet documentary. The photographer took weeks (months?) to film it, it was the first time such good footage has ever been captured of the Bird of Paradise. It's the new world star mega fauna, thanks to the patient photographer and some good luck.
posted by stbalbach at 9:12 AM on November 8, 2007

Planet Earth, right? Not Blue Planet.
posted by inconsequentialist at 9:15 AM on November 8, 2007

If the Superb Bird of Paradise is unsatisfactory, I will procure other birds from other locales for your pleasure.
posted by fleetmouse at 9:33 AM on November 8, 2007 [2 favorites]

Planet Earth, right? Not Blue Planet.

Planet Love, from the looks of it.
posted by breezeway at 9:34 AM on November 8, 2007 [1 favorite]

Thanks for the smile brain_drain. Fun and definitely irresistible.

My dad accidentally killed a Goldie's Bird of Paradise while hunting in the Far East, many years ago. :( We kept it in a shadowbox and it was, to me, one of the saddest things.
posted by nickyskye at 9:45 AM on November 8, 2007

My finishing move is pretty spectacular. Almost as impressive as Peter North's.
posted by longbaugh at 9:53 AM on November 8, 2007

This is how I met my wife.*

It took three solid weeks of dancing around her while holding my jacket open, but the Bird of Playahdise Pick Up Technique is not for the faint of hard or weak of constitution. Every courtship is guaranteed to end in consummation or a restraining order.
posted by robocop is bleeding at 9:57 AM on November 8, 2007 [3 favorites]

It's Planet Earth. i just finished watching the series. Which, by the way, is one of the greatest things I've ever seen.
posted by Bookhouse at 10:00 AM on November 8, 2007

Volume 1 of the DVD set Attenborough in Paradise includes almost an hour on birds of paradise, including this one, and their astounding displays. Amazing disc in many ways...
posted by dpcoffin at 10:07 AM on November 8, 2007

Has anyone read Perdido Street Station?
posted by casconed at 10:09 AM on November 8, 2007

Stephen Fry and crew from QI are absolutely delighted by the moonwalking bird.
posted by maudlin at 10:49 AM on November 8, 2007 [1 favorite]

Then wear the gold hat if it should please her. If you can jump high, jump for her too, till she cry "Lover, gold-hatted, high bouncing lover, I must have you!" --The Great Gatsby
posted by jamjam at 10:51 AM on November 8, 2007 [1 favorite]

I like the way the 'spectacular finishing move' video is titled 'The coolest bird on this planet'. That's a healthy, open-minded and optimistic attitude to have.
posted by Elmore at 11:09 AM on November 8, 2007

I guess I always got a different reaction from chicks when I opened up my head to block their path, and then hit them with my demonic glowing eyes.

Usually they didn't want to mate so much as have me exorcised.


I was blown away when I saw this video on Planet Earth. That series was just awesome
posted by quin at 11:15 AM on November 8, 2007

Any thread involving weird bird behaviour has to include a link to the Supreme Lyrebird.
posted by Johnny Assay at 11:23 AM on November 8, 2007 [1 favorite]

The BBC version of Planet Earth is probably the best gift I have ever received, and indeed the one that gets the most use to date.

I am in love with David Attenborough and I don't care who knows it.
posted by CitrusFreak12 at 12:45 PM on November 8, 2007

Colorado's male Gunnison Grouse (Centrocercus minimus) may not be as exotic as a SBoP, but he's still pretty impressive — those are inflatable air sacs, btw — and he knows how to throw his weight around in a song and dance.
posted by cenoxo at 7:07 PM on November 8, 2007 [1 favorite]

Sex is so weird.

... and on that note, here's David Attenborough getting attacked by a randy capercaillie.
posted by Pallas Athena at 8:56 AM on November 9, 2007

Oh man, just watched the Engungun vid, loved that! Just makes me want to dance. Loved the way the guy flapped his long shirt, reminded me of elaborate bird courtship. Beautiful.
posted by nickyskye at 11:12 AM on November 9, 2007

Imagine a feathered Tyrannosuaroid doing his little number...
posted by cenoxo at 12:25 PM on November 9, 2007

Aristocrats!
posted by kirkaracha at 1:44 PM on November 9, 2007