A wild guide to wooing

It’s that time of year again when love-struck humans will be getting ready to woo their beloved, perhaps with a bouquet of flowers or a box of chocolates. But in the natural world, birds have some very different tactics to win over the partner of their dreams. In this feature, we look at some of the courtship displays, rituals or dances that you could see in February.

Skylarks may be small, they may be brown, but when they open their beaks, their song is anything but boring! From late February onwards, males will fly high into the sky above farmland and grassland and put on one of nature’s most beautiful musical performances in the hope of impressing a potential mate. 

And it’s not just the females that are enchanted by their whistles, warbles and trills – Skylarks have long inspired poets, composers and writers, from Wordsworth to Vaughan Williams.

As if this delightful serenade wasn’t enough, mid-performance the male will plummet dramatically down to earth before rising again and repeating the show over and over. These captivating – and physically draining – display flights can go on for more than an hour at a time and prove the male has the strength and stamina to make good dad material.  

Where to see: You could spot Skylarks flying high above farmland, grassland, heathland and moorland almost anywhere in the UK.  

Instead of singing to attract a mate and advertise their territory, like Skylarks and many other birds, Great Spotted Woodpeckers take a slightly less subtle – and tuneful – approach by repeatedly bashing their beak against tree trunks. This creates a drumming noise that echoes through the woods and can be heard by potential lovers and rivals a long way away.  

This head banging is the equivalent of repeatedly hitting a wall face first at high speed, but luckily for the woodpeckers, special shock absorbers in their heads help protect their brains from damage. Both male and female woodpeckers will drum to establish their territories.

Once a male has captured a love interest’s attention, he might follow up with a spot of wing waving to show off his fine physique and seal the deal.  

Where to see: Great Spotted Woodpeckers are widespread in woodlands across Britain. You might see them in parks and gardens with large trees too. They’re rare in Northern Ireland, where they’re just starting to colonise eastern areas.  

With their dapper black and white body, iridescent head and gorgeous yellow eyes, male Goldeneyes are certainly dressed to impress the ladies. But it’s not all about looks for these guys. Oh no. They’ve got some pretty nifty dance moves too, and at this time of year lakes, lochs and reservoirs become the watery equivalent of a dancefloor for ducks. 

Males will bob about looking for a willing audience before busting out their signature move – the head toss. This involves dramatically flinging their head backwards, until it’s resting on their body, beak pointing skywards. This peculiar performance is often accompanied by a croaky double whistle.  

If that doesn’t do the trick to catch a female’s attention, they’ll take things up a notch and accompany the head toss with some frantic foot paddling, sending up a spray of water for extra dramatic effect. Who could resist? 

Where to watch: You can see Goldeneyes strutting their stuff at wetlands across the UK in winter.  

For centuries, Mute Swans have been a quintessential symbol of love and devotion and it’s not hard to see why. Each spring, pairs perform a beautifully synchronised ballet out on the water, bowing to each other with wings held aloft, before entwining their necks, often forming a perfect heart shape.  

It’s an image that has graced many a Valentine’s card, cementing their place as the most romantic of birds.  

Yet despite being blessed with grace and elegance, Mute Swans sadly lost out when it comes to their voice. They’re not actually mute, as their name suggests, but the grunts and snorts they make during their courtship displays sound distinctly pig-like. Oh well, you can’t win them all!  

Where to watch: Mute Swans are a common sight on ponds, lakes and rivers right across the UK, both in the countryside and in built-up areas. 

When it comes to courtship, few displays are as breathtaking as the synchronised flights of Ravens. Pairs will swoop, twist, roll and dive in unison, and even lock talons in a mid-air display of acrobatics that would put the Red Arrows to shame.

These flights help the birds assess the skill and vitality of a potential partner, and cement the bond between existing pairs.  

There’s a tender side to these aerial daredevils too. Pairs usually stick together for life and can often be seen preening and nuzzling each other to reinforce their partnership.  

Where to watch: You’re most likely to spot Ravens in northern and western parts of the UK, on farmland, in the uplands and mountainous areas, or near seaside cliffs.  

Put down those truffles. Step away from the champagne. The real food of love is a juicy earthworm (or beetle, or bug) – at least it is if you’re a female Robin!  

Once a male has wooed a female with his song, he knows that gifts of food can help to cement their bond. So, when she’s building the nest and incubating the eggs, he will deliver tasty morsels for her to snack on throughout the day. You might spot this courtship feeding in early spring, with the female shouting ‘FEED ME!’ in the form of a short sharp call and then quivering excitedly in anticipation of a tasty treat. 

This extra food can make a big difference to the pair’s breeding success – a female will often lay more eggs if she’s been well provided for by her partner.  

Where to watch: Robins are regular garden visitors, but you could also see them in parks, woodlands and scrubby areas.