Page 161 - It Can't Be True! Animals! - Unbelievable Facts About Amazing Animals (DK)

GROWING AND BREEDING 161

Greater bird of paradise
The colourful males of this bird of
paradise from New Guinea compete
for females in special displays on
parade grounds known as leks. Up
to 15 males perch on a tree branch,
hopping up and down, lifting their
tail feathers, flapping their wings,
and calling out to attract attention.
The female chooses the one that
puts on the best show.

Temminck’s tragopan
The male of this Chinese
pheasant inflates a brilliant blue
and red bib under its beak and
two fleshy horns on its head,
while bobbing and flapping its
wings. This is a captivating
sight for the female, who has
only dull grey plumage.

Satin bowerbird
The male satin bowerbird of Australia, with his glossy
blue plumage and violet eyes, spares no effort to attract a
mate. He builds a structure known as a bower out of twigs,
decorating it with blue objects such as feathers and plastic.
He then struts around it to impress the small, green female.

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