Comments on: The Lady Birds Can't Resist

The Lady Birds Can't Resist

brain_drain — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 08:52:57 -0800

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.)

By: eriko

eriko — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 08:55:21 -0800

Then he yells "Jazz hands!" (sorry)

By: DU

DU — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 08:59:32 -0800

The Supreme Pizza of Paradise lures a mate by having a browned crust and great toppings, plus maybe a side order of breadsticks.

By: k8t

k8t — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 09:01:49 -0800

That was pretty neat, I guess.

By: inconsequentialist

inconsequentialist — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 09:04:54 -0800

All that work and then she leaves? What a bitch!

By: uncleozzy

uncleozzy — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 09:05:14 -0800

I get the same reaction when I'm all grinding up on bitches in the club.

By: wowbobwow

wowbobwow — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 09:05:38 -0800

this is almost cooler than the bird from Brazil that does the moonwalk.

By: Benjamin Nushmutt

Benjamin Nushmutt — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 09:06:51 -0800

Duende!

By: stbalbach

stbalbach — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 09:12:46 -0800

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.

By: inconsequentialist

inconsequentialist — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 09:15:49 -0800

Planet Earth, right? Not Blue Planet.

By: The World Famous

The World Famous — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 09:32:02 -0800

I was looking forward to a post about the Super Bird of Paradise.

By: fleetmouse

fleetmouse — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 09:33:07 -0800

If the Superb Bird of Paradise is unsatisfactory, I will procure other birds from other locales for your pleasure.

By: breezeway

breezeway — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 09:34:31 -0800

Planet Earth, right? Not Blue Planet. Planet Love, from the looks of it.

By: nickyskye

nickyskye — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 09:45:18 -0800

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.

By: longbaugh

longbaugh — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 09:53:33 -0800

My finishing move is pretty spectacular. Almost as impressive as Peter North's.

By: robocop is bleeding

robocop is bleeding — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 09:57:28 -0800

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.

By: Bookhouse

Bookhouse — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 10:00:57 -0800

It's Planet Earth. i just finished watching the series. Which, by the way, is one of the greatest things I've ever seen.

By: dpcoffin

dpcoffin — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 10:07:01 -0800

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...

By: casconed

casconed — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 10:09:37 -0800

Has anyone read Perdido Street Station?

By: maudlin

maudlin — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 10:49:13 -0800

Stephen Fry and crew from QI are absolutely delighted by the moonwalking bird.

By: jamjam

jamjam — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 10:51:14 -0800

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

By: Elmore

Elmore — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 11:09:09 -0800

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.

By: quin

quin — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 11:15:08 -0800

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

By: Johnny Assay

Johnny Assay — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 11:23:14 -0800

Any thread involving weird bird behaviour has to include a link to the Supreme Lyrebird.

By: CitrusFreak12

CitrusFreak12 — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 12:45:46 -0800

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.

By: cenoxo

cenoxo — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 19:07:00 -0800

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.

By: Pallas Athena

Pallas Athena — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 08:56:06 -0800

Sex is so weird. ... and on that note, here's David Attenborough getting attacked by a randy capercaillie.

By: nickyskye

nickyskye — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 11:12:36 -0800

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.

By: cenoxo

cenoxo — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 12:25:21 -0800

Imagine a feathered Tyrannosuaroid doing his little number...

By: kirkaracha

kirkaracha — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 13:44:59 -0800

Aristocrats!