What is courtship? Courtships are behaviours and rituals done by individuals of a species during mating. This can include showing their feathers, colours and or movement. This is significant as it attracts potential mates of the opposite gender and communicates to potentially reproduce. If successful it increases the chances of successful reproduction.
An example of this is a NZ native bird known as the piwakawaka in Maori or the NZ Fantail. During courtship, the male performs movements like flying in zig-zag motions and showcasing their tail feathers to show the hidden white underside. They also produce calls. This is to attract a female to get their attention. The female will watch his behaviours and rituals and if impressed may call out back to the male. This will eventually lead to mating and potential reproduction. This will strengthen the pair's bond which can be an advantage to caring for their offspring and in turn, increase the offspring's survival chances.
