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How do boobies, cormorants, and anhingas display during courtship?
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Pelecaniform
European white pelicans (Pelecanus onocrotalus) in flight.
In the context of pelecaniform birds, courtship displays are primarily visual and serve to advertise the male's readiness to mate from a selected nest site.1
- Boobies: Males perform a "sky-pointing" display, which involves raising the head and tail while partially extending the wings. Each species utilizes specific, characteristic positions for the wings and tail during this display.1
- Cormorants and Anhingas: Males engage in a "wing-waving" display. This involves raising the head and tail with the wings partially raised, while the bird waves either its wing tips or its entire wings to varying degrees.1
These displays are often accompanied by species-specific calls. Once a pair-bond is established, these birds also perform recognition displays when returning to the nest: boobies use a "head-wagging" display, while cormorants and anhingas perform a "kink-throat" display.1