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uring courtship, animals have to work hard to find
                                  Da suitable partner. It’s all about producing offspring
                                and passing on their unique characteristics. In most
                               cases, the females get to be choosy, while the males have
                               to make an impression. So they prance, dance, sing and
                               fight to show off what they can do. It takes a lot of energy
                               to outdo the competition. But once a choice has been
                             made, the actual mating often takes just a few moments.







                       LOOK AT ME









                       FLAMBOYANt
                       Birds of Paradise


                        First, get their atten- The males of some species gather in a
                        tion . In New Guinea, the  special display area . Beforehand, they’ll
                        many different  birds  often clean and tidy it, carrying away
                       of paradise turn mating  loose sticks and stray leaves until the
                       into fireworks . The males,  courtship arena is spotless . Each bird
                      who already fly about in  has its own place, depending on its
                     glorious iridescent hues,  rank . The prime spots are reserved for
            transform themselves further to woo  the oldest and most beautiful males .
          the females . They might puff up their  The young birds can join in, of course,
          feathers and perform dance routines or  but they’re too inexperienced to impress
          flare their wings and necks to produce  many of the females .
          face-like patterns on their bodies . Some
          look like erupting volcanoes, perched  When the hopping and singing begin,
          on their branches . Others spread and  feathers flutter everywhere . From above,
          flaunt their feather fans .            or off to one side, the females watch

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