Male bird's attempt to impress female makes her run for the hills

The males of most animal species have the task of finding a female. It’s one thing finding a female but impressing a female is a different story. The aim of the game is to impress and be accepted but as this video shows, sometimes the attempts to impress can be a little too much.Show more

Birds are most likely some of the most fascinating animals in the animal kingdom to watch when it comes to males attempting to impress the females. Males are mostly more brightly coloured and have all sorts of moves to show off to the females. Some are more charming than others. It was during a late afternoon safari that we came across a bird called a Swainson’s francolin. It was a male bird standing on top of a termite mound. These birds usually become vocal just before sunset and they usually call from an elevated spot such as mounds, fallen logs or a big rock. My first thought was that this male francolin bird was going to perform his vocal call from the top of the mound. I quickly realised that this male bird had other plans. While focusing with my camera on the male bird, waiting for him to start performing his call, the bird suddenly changed behaviour.

The male francolin puffed out his feathers and with his head held low, looking very awkward, the male bird made his way down the mound in a hurry. I followed the bird with my camera till he suddenly came to halt stop right in front of a female francolin bird. I quickly realised that the female francolin must have arrived in the time I was focused on the male bird and that she caught his attention in the process. The male bird went and stopped right in front of the female and shoved his face right into the female’s face. It was a matter of seconds before the female ducked and with a lightning side step got out from under the rather scary looking male bird.

I have no idea how the male bird thought that his moves were charming but it looked a little scary and intimidating to me. The female quickly headed up and over the hill. The male, still looking weird, chased after the female until they disappeared into the long grass. It was amazing how entertaining such a short little moment in the wild could be.