10 Crazy Dancing Birds in Latin America

Species across the animal kingdom display a variety of courtship rituals, and dancing birds are no exception. 

Usually, these dances consist of the males working hard to attract the females’ attention through movement, sound, skills, good looks, and even fighting rituals. Birds use many methods to impress the opposite sex.

From colorful and unique plumage to complex movements to impress the object of their affection, dancing birds have fascinating rituals. Keep reading to discover 10 of the most amazing dancing birds in Latin America! 

Why Do Birds Dance?

The purpose of courtship rituals is to attract a mate. While all kinds of birds do rituals, not all birds dance. Some simply just sing and call for their mate. But some birds make it a bit more of a show. 

In some parts of the world, the competition for mates is fierce. The macho (male) has to prove to the hembra (female) that he is fit and capable of being the best mate. Showing off his superiority by dancing enables him to get creative and show off his feathers, too! 

It’s incredible to see how well these birds can dance! 

10 Crazy Dancing Birds in Latin America (with Videos!)

Learning Spanish is more fun when you get to explore themes that interest you such as dancing birds! So, let’s get to them. 

1. Red-Capped Manakin

Habitat: Belize, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru. They like to live in subtropical or tropical lowland forests. 

In Central American forests, male red-capped manakins are famously known for their moonwalk. Just like Michael Jackson, they have incredible moves. At first, he keeps his wings tucked, his head down and draws a female’s gaze to his bright yellow thighs and impressive footwork. 

The birds slide and glide along a branch as if living in a frictionless world, hopping and pivoting to change direction, all to catch the eye of a female with exceptionally high standards. 

It’s essential to protect these unique dancing birds. According to Wikipedia, “the number of red-capped manakins caught in mist nets at La Selva Biological Reserve in eastern Costa Rica tripled in January and February, when a favored fruit ripened while the number of birds caught at a nearby higher elevation site dropped to zero.”

2. Flamingo 

Habitat: Peru, Argentina, Uruguay, Bolivia, and parts of Brazil. All flamingos are found in tropical or subtropical weather.

The flamingo’s dance is also a courtship dance and sometimes it’s even an ensemble affair. The pink birds form a group and march together in formation. They hold their necks high and turn their heads from side to side. The most successful flamingos in finding a mate are those with the most versatile and unique moves. 

Although they usually court as a group, flamingos are monogamous and couples stick together to raise their chicks. 

3. Black-Footed Albatross

Habitat: the black-footed albatross nests on the Hawaiian Islands and in parts of Mexico. They usually live in the open ocean and only get close to shore to breed. 

These birds have elaborate and odd courtship dances. Sometimes they dance in pairs and other times in groups. They all dance together to see if they’re compatible. 

These birds mate for life, so the process of finding their perfect dance partner is time-consuming. It may take them years to find the perfect mate. They come back to shore whenever they are in search of their pair and if they cannot find it, they try again and again. 

Each species of albatross has a unique dance routine. Their dance includes head shaking, sky pointing, head bobbing, and calling. 

4. Sandhill Crane

Habitat: These majestic birds live in North America but migrate to Mexico and Cuba when needed. They spend most of their lives in wetlands, river basins, and wet grasslands. 

This funny dancing bird is famous for being extremely awkward and goofy. The male starts this courtship dance by doing any move he can think of to get the female’s attention. He stretches his wings, jumps up and down, and bends his neck backwards. 

Once he gets the female’s attention, they dance together and then leap into the air and flap their wings together. The dance is one-of-a-kind, and you would never guess that they’re trying to mate. 

5. Western Grebe

Habitat: They live on the lakes in western Canada and in the U.S., but they migrate to Mexico for the winter. They breed in temperate coastal regions and close to freshwater lakes.

Grebes are famous for their enthusiastic courtship dance. They have a well-known head banging move that looks like they are rocking to heavy metal music. 

They even walk on water to impress the opposite sex. Both male and female have to walk on water, which is no small feat. They flap their feet super fast, which is how they can actually pull it off! 

6. Bald Eagle

Habitat: Bald eagles are North American birds found in Canada, the U.S., and Mexico near lakes and rivers. 

The eagle’s dance is all about pairs dancing together after they have chosen each other. It’s a celebratory dance. When they fall in love, they enjoy making aerial dances where they soar at an extremely high altitude and create spirals in the air. 

They entangle themselves to fly in spirals together as then fly down until they reach the ground. It’s a risky and dangerous dance. Sadly, sometimes they cannot untangle in time, which can end in a fatal crash. 

7. Greater Sage-Grouse

Habitat: The greater sage-grouse lives in the western United States and parts of Mexico. They nest on the ground and are usually found in grass patches. 

Their dance is unbelievable. These birds are related to chickens, but they’re much larger, with a spiked tail, bright colored feathers and a chest that they proudly display. They like to perform at sunrise and then begin the display. They also make a specific sound that is extremely loud so that females know how to find them. 

8. Blue-footed Booby

Habitat: The natural breeding habitats where the blue-footed bobby is found are in tropical and subtropical islands, as well as in Peru and on the Galápagos Islands. 

As their name suggests, their blue feet are a big part of their ritual dance. Their courtship dance involves the males and females showing off their feet! They will hop up and down to raise their feet as much as they can and show the females their amazing bright blue feet and white feathers, which create a sharp contrast. 

The color of their feet depends on what kind of food they eat, that’s why they’re usually blue. Females like to see how blue the male’s feet are and how healthy they look to determine if they’re the right match. 

9. Costa’s Hummingbird

Habitat: 52 species of hummingbird live in Costa Rica since they prefer tropical weather. 

The male Costa’s hummingbird is also known as “squidface,” and he performs a  ritual mating dance. The male begins swooping and diving over his crush and moves his body like an acrobat to impress the females. 

Although the dance takes a major effort, sometimes it’s not enough to impress her. That’s when he shows off his muscles and feathers. He can even make his feathers shine under the sun to impress potential mates! 

10. Superb Bird of Paradise

Habitat: The superb bird of paradise lives in the rainforests of New Guinea and in the Amazon Rainforest of South America. 

For his courtship dance, the male dancing bird of paradise spreads his cape back until his blue breast pops out and his blue eyes are visible in his pitch-black feathers. 

This dancing bird continues to dance around the female in circles until she’s completely convinced that he’s the mate for her. There are many different types of birds of paradise and their dance varies slightly between species. 

Go Birdwatching—and Speak Spanish—in Latin America

Learning about animals from different fascinating Latin American countries is a wonderful way to fully immerse yourself in the culture. There’s nothing better than visiting these enchanting countries and talking to the locals. Speaking the native language is key. By learning Spanish, you’ll be able to speak with many different people and learn more about the world. Even in the United States, there are 41 million native Spanish speakers who speak Spanish in their homes. Sign up for a free class to start or renew your Spanish-learning journey at Homeschool Spanish Academy!

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Mar Z. Luna

Freelance Writer at Learn Grow Travel

Mar Z. Luna is a published writer and communicator who loves to explore and educate. She majored in Communications and strives to help others improve their lives. She recently published a book, Inside, and has contributed to different publications such as Que Pasa Magazine. Communicating comes naturally to her and she hopes to simplify what seems complex by using reliable sources and her teaching experience. You can find her at www.learngrowtravel.com

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