LARIDAE
Gulls, terns, noddies and skimmers
COURTSHIP DISPLAYS:
Gulls, terns, noddies and skimmers perform courtship displays in order to attract a female or to strengthen the pair-bonds. They share several types of courtship, with some differences.
Gulls engage in courting of potential mate, and mated pairs strengthen the pair-bonds. They use several types of calls such as “long call”, mew or crooning calls with “head-toss” during the calls.
SUMMARY OF THIS STUDY
Introduction and Description of the species
Reproduction :
The nest
The defence displays
The courtship displays
Nesting behaviour
Text by Nicole Bouglouan
Photographers:
Aurélien Audevard
OUESSANT DIGISCOPING
Alfredo Colón
Puerto Rico Wildlife
Maxime Dechelle
LEPAPARRAZO
Steve Garvie
RAINBIRDER Photo galleries
Tom Grey
Tom Grey's Bird Pictures
Paul Guillet
Photos d'Oiseaux
René Lortie
http://rlortie.ca
Tom Merigan
Tom Merigan’s Photo Galleries
Patrick Ingremeau
TAMANDUA
Jean Michel Peers
JMPN PHOTOGRAPHIE
Callie de Wet
GALLERY
Nicole Bouglouan
PHOTOGRAPHIC RAMBLE
Sources :
HANDBOOK OF THE BIRDS OF THE WORLD Volume 3 by Josep del Hoyo-Andrew Elliott-Jordi Sargatal - Lynx Edicions - ISBN : 8487334202
THE HANDBOOK OF BIRD IDENTIFICATION FOR EUROPE AND THE WESTERN PALEARCTIC by Mark Beaman, Steve Madge - C.Helm - ISBN: 0713639601
OISEAUX DE LA REUNION par Armand Barau - Nicolas Barré - Christian Jouanin - Editions Orphie - ISBN : 2877632636
L’ENCYCLOPEDIE MONDIALE DES OISEAUX - Dr Christopher M. Perrins - BORDAS - ISBN: 2040185607
Larus argentatus
Yellow-legged Gull - Larus michahellis
The following display is usually associated with copulation.
Chroicocephalus ridibundus
Copulation occurs about 7-10 days before egg-laying, with calls and wing-flagging.
Leucophaeus atricilla
The choice of the nest-site involves other displays named “Chokes”. Each bird selects several potential sites and then, both partners “chokes” at its favoured site by pressing the cheek towards the ground and touching it. When the nest-site is selected, both mates “chokes” in tandem for several minutes.
Grey-hooded Gull - Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus
California Gull - Larus californicus
Caspian Tern - Hydroprogne caspia
She swallows it immediately, or keeps it in the bill during the displays.
Both sexes engage in aerial displays such as “high-flight” or “fish-flight”. They fly in tandem, flying high in the air, and alternate with glides on stiff wings.
White-cheeked Tern
Sterna repressa
Once the pair is formed, the female defends the territory while the male feeds her. Other displays are performed prior to copulation, with both mates circling around each other with dropped wings and bill pointed downwards. During the copulation, male raises the wings in “copulatory-wing-flagging”.
Common Tern - Sterna hirundo
Caspian Tern - Hydroprogne caspia
Usually, the male feeds the female during the incubation, but both adults share the territory defence and the nesting duties.
Anous stolidus
They also perform “fish-flight” during which one bird gives a fish to its mate.
Skimmers, pairs or groups, engage in aerial chases during pair formation. Often several males pursue one female. They fly in all directions, while giving strongly their love-calls.
Rynchops niger
At the end of the chase, the male extends the wings for short instant and struts by the side of female.
Courtship feeding occurs within groups and little by little, pairs are more spaced. They usually breed in colonies of terns.
Courtship displays are performed mainly by males which try to display the most conspicuous parts of body and head.
Other displays are used to prove their ability to rear a clutch and protect young and female.
Rynchops niger
