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.