How do male sticklebacks attract females during the breeding season?

During the breeding season, male sticklebacks attract females primarily through a combination of nest building and dramatic changes in body coloration.12

After constructing a nest using plant materials held together by threadlike, mucous secretions from his kidneys, the male undergoes a hormonal shift that causes his typically drab body hues to change to vibrant colors, ranging from red to yellow-orange or black, depending on the species. These bright colors serve as a key reproductive signal, acting as a sexually attractive display to females. Once a female is attracted, the male coaxes and drives her into the nest to lay her eggs.123