ZME Science
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science

Home → Environment → Animals

Adorable songbirds tap dance to woo mates

The cordon-bleus are unique animals that both sing and tap-dance to attract mates.

Tibi PuiubyTibi Puiu
November 20, 2015
in Animals, Biology, News
A A
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterSubmit to Reddit

RelatedPosts

Microorganisms can survive in space and on other planets, safe behind dried-up biofilms
Plastic pollution could stay on the seafloor virtually forever
Oldest dinosaur relative looked nothing like scientists imagined
This newly found dead star could have a solid surface
Cordon-bleu pair dancing on the same perch. The male usually performs these dances holding a nesting material in its beak. Image: Nao Ota
Cordon-bleu pair dancing on the same perch. The male usually performs these dances holding a nesting material in its beak. Image: Nao Ota

There are quite a few tactics employed by animals in nature to woo mates. You can be aggressive and forcefully take a mate, cave-man style. You can peacock, and display yourself as elegant and resourceful. Or you can dazzle your partner with showmanship. A lot of birds vocalize beautiful songs (or so they sound) to attract a mate. Typically a male does the work and the female gets to pick her favorite. Blue-capped cordon-bleus, however, not only sing, but tap-dance as well. Moreover, both males and females do it, and it seems like a lot of fun. These dances are so quick that you’ll miss them with the naked eye. If you’re looking for the lord of the dance, set your gaze high up the branches.

Researchers from Japan and Germany discovered this unique tap-dancing ritual after painstakingly recording the songbirds using high-speed cameras. The team followed eight pairs of cordon-bleus over multiple two-hour sessions. Sometimes, the birds were unresponsive  since these didn’t enjoy each other’s company. The researchers had to be very patient and creative in choosing their pairs. Once the birds felt comfortable, both males and females would start to bop up and down. Once both were on the same perch, the dance became more vigorous which caused discernible vibrations.

This is the first bird, that we know of, that uses its feet to produce non-vocal sounds. Elsewhere, researchers have found some birds use their wings to deliberately produce non-vocal sounds, but typically these birds don’t sing.  Masayo Soma, from Hokkaido University in Japan says these vibrations a musical accompaniment to the bird’s song, targeting multiple senses. Previously, researchers at Hokkaido University in Japan male Java can coordinate their bill-clicking sounds with the notes of their song, adding a drum-like beat to the chirp-chirp tune.

“It is very astonishing,” said Manfred Gahr, co-author of the study, from the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology in Germany. “Maybe more birds are doing it, but it just has not been seen.”

From the videos, the researchers could tell each cordon-bleu could make  three or four very rapid steps. As little as 20 milliseconds (0.02 seconds) passed between each step, the researchers reported in Scientific Reports. Literally as fast as the blink of an eye. Check out the cordon-bleus amazing dance below.

ShareTweetShare
Tibi Puiu

Tibi Puiu

Tibi is a science journalist and co-founder of ZME Science. He writes mainly about emerging tech, physics, climate, and space. In his spare time, Tibi likes to make weird music on his computer and groom felines. He has a B.Sc in mechanical engineering and an M.Sc in renewable energy systems.

Related Posts

Health

Tennis May Add Nearly 10 Years to Your Life and Most People Are Ignoring It

byTibi Puiu
2 days ago
Anthropology

Humans Have Been Reshaping Earth with Fire for at Least 50,000 Years

byTudor Tarita
2 days ago
Biology

The Strangest Microbe Ever Found Straddles The Line Between Life and Non-Life

byTudor Tarita
2 days ago
News

This $8750 Watch Was Designed for Space and Could Finally Replace Apollo-era Omega Watches

byTudor Tarita
2 days ago

Recent news

Tennis May Add Nearly 10 Years to Your Life and Most People Are Ignoring It

July 4, 2025

Humans Have Been Reshaping Earth with Fire for at Least 50,000 Years

July 4, 2025

The Strangest Microbe Ever Found Straddles The Line Between Life and Non-Life

July 4, 2025
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Editorial Policy
  • Privacy Policy and Terms of Use
  • How we review products
  • Contact

© 2007-2025 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Science News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Space
  • Future
  • Features
    • Natural Sciences
    • Physics
      • Matter and Energy
      • Quantum Mechanics
      • Thermodynamics
    • Chemistry
      • Periodic Table
      • Applied Chemistry
      • Materials
      • Physical Chemistry
    • Biology
      • Anatomy
      • Biochemistry
      • Ecology
      • Genetics
      • Microbiology
      • Plants and Fungi
    • Geology and Paleontology
      • Planet Earth
      • Earth Dynamics
      • Rocks and Minerals
      • Volcanoes
      • Dinosaurs
      • Fossils
    • Animals
      • Mammals
      • Birds
      • Fish
      • Amphibians
      • Reptiles
      • Invertebrates
      • Pets
      • Conservation
      • Animal facts
    • Climate and Weather
      • Climate change
      • Weather and atmosphere
    • Health
      • Drugs
      • Diseases and Conditions
      • Human Body
      • Mind and Brain
      • Food and Nutrition
      • Wellness
    • History and Humanities
      • Anthropology
      • Archaeology
      • History
      • Economics
      • People
      • Sociology
    • Space & Astronomy
      • The Solar System
      • Sun
      • The Moon
      • Planets
      • Asteroids, meteors & comets
      • Astronomy
      • Astrophysics
      • Cosmology
      • Exoplanets & Alien Life
      • Spaceflight and Exploration
    • Technology
      • Computer Science & IT
      • Engineering
      • Inventions
      • Sustainability
      • Renewable Energy
      • Green Living
    • Culture
    • Resources
  • Videos
  • Reviews
  • About Us
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Editorial policy
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact

© 2007-2025 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.