How the male common snipe 'flies the flag' to get the girl

Wednesday, April 28, 2010 - 10:40 in Biology & Nature

A new study -- using high speed video and feathers bought on eBay -- shows that when the male snipe sticks out his outer tail feathers, they flutter like flags in the wind, producing a highly seductive drumming sound. The winged Lothario also dives to increase the speed and therefore raise the pitch of the call in a bid to impress the female of the species.

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