Happy Valentine’s Day from your favorite birding shop! This week, let’s have some fun and learn about the different courting and pairing habits of a few of our feathered friends.
Birds that Pair for Life
Did you know that there are many examples in the bird world of species that will mate for life? For an interesting list of 8 species, as well as more information, I will link to the National Audubon Society article here. For our purposes today, however, we will just focus on a couple of the species you likely have or can encounter in Middle Tennessee. For example, did you know that the Bald Eagle, the avian symbol of our country, mates for life? Reaching sexual maturity typically between 4 and 5 years of age, and with a lifespan of 20-30 years in the wild, pairing for life is no small feat!
Bald Eagle
Photo Credit: Eli Haislip
Another species that is more likely to be seen in our area year round is the very common Black Vulture. During the breeding season, they engage in aerial courtship displays consisting of the male diving at the female and then flying close together… Not exactly our idea of romantic, but it works well enough for them that they form strong enough bonds that they will spend the entire year together, not just limiting their time with one another to the breeding season.
Lastly, the Pileated Woodpecker is also monogamous, with one pair occupying and defending a territory throughout the year. While with many species, the female does most of the nest building work, that isn’t the case with these large woodpeckers! The male does the bulk of the work, with the female beginning to contribute as the cavity nears completion. Despite their large size, Pileated Woodpeckers are fairly elusive and are generally uncommon visitors to feeders.
Pileated Woodpecker
Photo Credit: Eli Haislip
Interesting Courtship Rituals
Humans are far from the only species that will show off dance moves in the pursuit of attracting a mate! Check out this video taken in John’s backyard of a pair of Pileated Woodpeckers engaging in a courtship display.
While this pair of Pileated Woodpeckers are a long way from beating the likes of Fred Astaire or Shirley Temple, they put on quite the entertaining show for us to observe and enjoy. As we get into spring, specifically April and May, keep an eye out for this behavior if you find yourself out in the forest. You never know what you might see!