If you’ve been watching Love Island or any other reality dating show, you’ll know that there’s a lot us humans still have to learn about the intricate art of dating.
Our garden birds, on the other hand, are very well practised when it comes to attracting Mr or Mrs Right.
Here are 3 golden rules of dating that the birds in your garden can teach us:
1. Build a nice nest
Birds know that it’s a myth that females want bad boys. If you really want to woo a woman you need to make her feel secure. Female wrens take stability and the location of a nest into consideration when choosing a prospective mate, opting for those that are well constructed and camouflaged from predators.
2. Make yourself noticed
There’s no point hiding in the shadows, you need to get yourself out there and attract attention! Blackbirds perform a series of complex dance rituals including head-bowing with an open beak. Others, like the Song Thrush or Robin, sing sweetly at the top of their voices. Looks have their part to play too. Female Blue Tits look for males with a bright yellow chest and a very wide black belly stripe. Maybe keep this colour theme in mind the next time you’re shopping for a new jumper!
3. Bring food
Bringing a good snack on a date is always a good idea! Female Blue Tits want a mate to prove he can provide for her and her chicks before she will even take a second glance. Therefore, many tasty snacks are required to secure the deal (up to 40% of the female’s food intake during the courtship).